Onboard P&O Ferries "Spirit of Britain". Dover, England, UK to Calais, France

Date: Friday 26th August 2011
Ferry Operator: P&O Ferries
Ship Name: "Spirit of Britain"
Ship type: Cross-channel ferry
Ship Builder: STX Europe, Rauma, Finland
Launch Date: 8th June 2010
Maiden Voyage: 21st January 2011
Tonnage: 49,000 tonnes
Length: 210 m (689.0 ft)
Beam: 31.4 m (103.0 ft)
Draft: 6.5 m (21.3 ft)
Installed power: 4 x MAN 7L 48/60 Diesels
Propulsion: 2 x controllable pitch propellers and 3 x Bow thrusters
Speed: 22 kn (41 km/h) (25.31 mph)
Capacity: 1,750 passengers; 1059 Cars; 180 Lorries
Departure Port: Port of Dover (Eastern Docks), Dover, Kent, England, UK
Departure Berth No: 7
Arrival Port: Port de Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France
Arrival Berth No: 8
Boarding Time: 12:15pm BST
Departure Time: 12:40pm BST
Arrival Time: 3:29pm CEST
Total crossing time: 1 hr 30 mins

On the start of our trip to Luxembourg with Just You holidays, we were lucky enough to have the "Spirit of Britain as our cross-channel ferry. This is the largest ferry ever designed for the Calais crossing.

0:03 - Approaching the Port of Dover with the White Cliifs in the background.

0:51 - Entering the Port of Dover (Eastern Docks).

1:17 - Heading towards the Coach interchange.

1:48 - Departing the Coach interchange.

2:09 - Boarding the "Spirit of Britain".

2:54 - Looking at the P&O Ferries "Pride of Burgundy" from the sun deck onboard the "Spirit of Britain". (3:04) Cars unloading.


3:24 - Close up of the White Cliffs and the Berths at the Port of Dover.

3:48 - Engineers closing the gates and the vehicle bridge goes up.

4:07 - Engineer pulls the rope.

4:22 - Departing the Port of Dover. (4:33) View of the White Cliffs and a close up of the P&O Ferries "Pride of Burgundy". (5:54) SeaFrance Nord Pas-de-Calais coming into Berth 4. (6:11) The harbour wall and entering out into the English Channel. (6:27) Looking back at the Port of Dover. (6:35) Panorama of the White Cliffs of Dover.

6:42 - Information board on Deck 8, Lower Level.

6:55 - Waves.

7:00 - Distant view of the French coastline and passing ships in the English Channel.

7:31 - Seating area.

7:36 - Approaching Calais with the beaches in the distance.

7:53 - Entering the Port of Calais with a view of the town.

8:19 - P&O Ferries "Pride of Kent" departing Calais.

9:11 - Vehicles being loaded onto SeaFrance "Rodin" at Berth 7.

9:29 - Walking to the coach on deck C4.

9:43 - Driving up to the exit.

10:10 - Very heavy rain at Calais.

10:27 - Coming out of the vehicle deck at Berth 8.

11:03 - Leaving the shipping lane and heading towards the exit.

11:12 - Looking back at our ship, "Spirit of Britain" at Berth 8.

11:42 - Passing the Calais Ferry Terminal.

12:12 - Leaving the Port of Calais.

Filmed using the Sony HDR-HC9 HDV1080i High Definition Handycam.