GLD Atlantique
GLD Atlantique is a joint subsidiary of Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, the owners of LD Lines, and the Italian operator Grimaldi Lines, two of Europe's largest ship owners. It was created to operate the first ever `motorway of the sea' between France and Spain linking the ports of Nantes Saint-Nazaire and Gijón, the first of two "FRES MOS" (France España Motorways of the Seas) designed in 2009.
The purpose of the new motorway of the sea is to offer a new passenger route as well as to relieve congestion on roads crossing the Pyrenees and reduce the environmental impact of freight transport between the countries.
This long-desired Bay of Biscay route will launch in September 2010 and will be served by a ferry with a capacity of 800 passengers and up to 150 freight trailers and equipped with full modern facilities including 100 cabins, Pullman seats, restaurants and bars.