LINKSPANS IMPROVED
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• increased vehicle capacity on Townsend Thoresen's recently jumhoised Viking Venturer and Viking Valiant is now being fully utilised with the completion of two-tier drivethrough linkspans at Portsmouth and Le Havre — the only service and ports to have such facilities on the western Channel.
The linkspans — specially commissioned to accommodate the jumboised 14,760 ton Super Viking class ships which have recently doubled their vehicle deck capacity — allow loading or unloading to take place at both levels simultaneously.
Bob Kirton, operations director for Townsend Thoresen at Portsmouth, said doubling the vehicle capacity enables the ferry company to carry over 60 accompanied commercial vehicles per crossing. With six crossings per day, the two-tier through loading facility has enabled Townsend Thoresen to achieve the minimum turnround times essential for maintaining schedules on the western Channel route.