Danish shipping company DFDS have created a new freight ferry route between Calais in France and Sheerness in Kent, bypassing the busy Port of Dover with the maiden voyage of the new service taking place today (July 13).

Ship 'Maxine' has been allocated to the new route, which is for unaccompanied freight with daily sailings both ways between England & France.

Sheerness port benefits from close proximity to the M25 orbital ring being approximately 40km closer to the M25 than Dover, which is ideal for goods heading to the London area and the Midlands.

Footage shows the new ship Maxine departing Sheerness for Calais this afternoon.

Several french websites report dock workers in Calais attempted to blockade the new route from starting, with the situation only resolved by a crisis meeting shortly before the ship left France for England on its maiden voyage.