On the 8th August 2008 P&O Ferries released news that they had concluded their design process and that an order for two new ships had been placed with Aker Yards in Finland. These two new ships will be the largest and most modern on the Dover to Calais route, whilst not reducing the sailing time they will increase the standards of the onboard experience.

Whilst the news that two new ships will be built, with an option to build two more to the same design, is excellent news it does however lead naturally to an event that will be a sad day not only for P&O Ferries, but the ports of Dover and Calais. The 1987 built mv Pride of Dover and mv Pride of Calais, the last ships built for Townsend Thorsen and the most successful ships ever built for the route will be withdrawn from service. The ships will be 22/23 years old when they are to be withdrawn and unlike many ships their age they can claim to have always served the same operator and same home port for the duration of their careers.

Over the course of the next couple of years this area will expand and follow the building of the two new super-ferries and likewise will follow the twilight years of the mv Pride of Dover and mv Pride of Calais.