DFDS sails to France with eight ships from England: six on its two Dover routes, to Calais and Dunkirk, and two on Newhaven to Dieppe. They range from the Côte d’Opale, the longest ferry on the Channel, to the Newhaven sisters with cabins and kennels for the 4-hour crossing.
DFDS ships at a glance
| Ship | Route | Built | Passengers | Length | IMO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Côte d’Opale | Dover to Calais | 2021 | 1,000 | 214 m | 9858321 |
| Côte des Dunes | Dover to Calais | 2001 | 1,500 | 186 m | 9232527 |
| Côte des Flandres | Dover to Calais | 2004 | 1,500 | 186 m | 9305843 |
| Dover Seaways | Dover to Dunkirk and Calais | 2005 | 1,000 | 186 m | 9318345 |
| Delft Seaways | Dover to Dunkirk and Calais | 2005 | 1,000 | 186 m | 9293088 |
| Dunkerque Seaways | Dover to Dunkirk and Calais | 2005 | 1,000 | 186 m | 9293076 |
| Seven Sisters | Newhaven to Dieppe | 2005–2006 | Not published by DFDS | 9320130 | |
| Côte d’Albâtre | Newhaven to Dieppe | 2005–2006 | Not published by DFDS | 9320128 | |
Which ship you sail on depends on the crossing. Pets stay in your vehicle on all the Dover ships; on Newhaven to Dieppe they can also go in a kennel or a pet-friendly cabin.
DFDS ship guides
Côte d’Opale
DFDS’s newest and biggest ship on Dover to Calais, since August 2021. At 214 m she’s the longest ferry on the Channel, with a 1,100 m² duty-free shop, three restaurants, a Premium Lounge and active stabilisers. Côte d’Opale guide.
Côte des Dunes and Côte des Flandres
French-flagged sisters on Dover to Calais, built in 2001 and 2004 and refurbished in 2016. With 1,500 passengers each and a cruising speed of 25 knots, they’re the biggest carriers and the fastest ships in the DFDS Channel fleet. Côte des Dunes and Côte des Flandres guide.
Dover, Delft and Dunkerque Seaways
Three UK-flagged sisters from 2005 that sail Dover to Dunkirk, and that DFDS also lists on Calais. Each carries 1,000 passengers and 250 cars. Dover, Delft and Dunkerque Seaways guide.
Seven Sisters and Côte d’Albâtre
The Newhaven to Dieppe pair, built for the 4-hour crossing: a reclining seat for every passenger, cabins including pet-friendly cabins, 3 kennels, a restaurant and a sea-view bar. The Seven Sisters has been refitted, and the Côte d’Albâtre is next. Seven Sisters and Côte d’Albâtre guide.
Tarifa Jet (Jersey to St Malo)
From the Channel Islands, DFDS sails Jersey to St Malo on the fast ferry Tarifa Jet, in 1 hour 55 minutes, with up to one sailing a day and fewer in winter.
Where are the DFDS ships now?
These live maps show every ship in the area, with names, from AIS data via VesselFinder. Tap or click a map to use it, and tap a ship for her speed, course and next port. Positions can be a few minutes old.
Strait of Dover: Calais and Dunkirk ships
Live map from VesselFinder. IMO 9858321.
Newhaven to Dieppe
Live map from VesselFinder. IMO 9320130.
For routes, fares, check-in and pets, see the DFDS guide. Other ferry companies’ ships: the Brittany Ferries fleet and P&O Ferries.
DFDS Fleet Guide FAQs
Which DFDS ships sail Dover to Calais?
The Côte d'Opale, Côte des Dunes and Côte des Flandres. DFDS also lists the Dover Seaways, Delft Seaways and Dunkerque Seaways on both its Dover routes.
Which DFDS ships sail Dover to Dunkirk?
The sister ships Dover Seaways, Delft Seaways and Dunkerque Seaways, each carrying up to 1,000 passengers and 250 cars.
Which DFDS ships sail Newhaven to Dieppe?
The sister ships Seven Sisters and Côte d'Albâtre. The Seven Sisters has been refitted with a bigger duty-free shop, a new recliner lounge, a new play area and redesigned cabins, and DFDS is making the same changes to the Côte d'Albâtre.
What is the biggest DFDS ship on the Channel?
The Côte d'Opale, at 214 m long. DFDS describes her as the longest ferry on the English Channel, with the largest duty-free shop on the Channel at 1,100 m².
Where are the DFDS ships now?
The live maps on this page show the ships in the Strait of Dover and between Newhaven and Dieppe, from VesselFinder's AIS data. Each ship's IMO number links to her own tracking page.