Freight catamaran arrives in port

The Norman Arrow will cut crossing times to one hour

The first high-speed freight catamaran to operate across the English Channel has arrived at a Kent port.

The Norman Arrow has spent three weeks travelling from Tasmania and was docking at the Port of Dover just after 1830 BST on Tuesday.

LD Lines will use the Incat 367ft (112m) vessel, the world's largest diesel-powered catamaran, on the Dover to Boulogne route from 6 June.

The French company said it will create 160 new jobs for the service.

It plans to employ 80 people to work at the port and 80 to work on the catamaran.

The 11,000-tonne vessel will make up to four return sailings daily, cutting crossing times to Boulogne from one hour and 45 minutes to one hour.

The vessel will be able to accommodate cars, coaches, motor homes, caravans, motorcycles and foot passengers, as well as carrying freight.

Two daily return conventional ferry sailings from Dover to Boulogne and one to Dieppe will continue to be served by LD Lines.

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Freight catamaran is port's first