. ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 3 , ▁part ▁of ▁L D ▁L ines ▁was ▁sp un ▁off ▁and ▁merged ▁with ▁the ▁English ▁Channel ▁operations ▁of ▁D F DS ▁Se aw ays ▁to ▁form ▁D F DS ▁Se aw ays ▁France . ▁In ▁September ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁the ▁Po ole - G ij on / S ant ander ▁route ▁closed ▁and ▁the ▁Norman ▁Ast ur ias ▁was ▁immediately ▁laid ▁up ▁off ▁the ▁coast ▁of ▁Saint ▁Naz aire . ▁In ▁mid - Se ptember ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁the ▁Saint ▁Naz aire - G ij on ▁route ▁was ▁susp ended ▁and ▁the ▁Norman ▁Ast ur ias ▁was ▁sent ▁to ▁Al ge cir as ▁and ▁the ▁Norman ▁Atlantic ▁to ▁Mess ina . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁Le ▁Hav re – Port sm outh ▁L D ▁L ines ' ▁English ▁Channel ▁operations ▁comm enced ▁in ▁October ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁operating ▁between ▁Port sm outh , ▁England ▁and ▁Le ▁Hav re , ▁France . ▁ ▁This ▁service ▁was ▁introduced ▁following ▁the ▁withdraw al ▁of ▁P & O ▁Fer ries ' ▁long - standing ▁operation ▁on ▁this ▁route . ▁ ▁Initial ly ▁there ▁was ▁one ▁sail ing ▁per ▁day ▁in ▁each ▁direction , ▁with ▁the ▁Port sm outh – Le ▁Hav re ▁sail ing ▁taking ▁place ▁over night . ▁ ▁This ▁util ised ▁one ▁vessel , ▁the ▁MS ▁Norman ▁Spirit , ▁which ▁is ▁iron ically ▁a ▁former ▁P & O ▁vessel ▁( used ▁on ▁their ▁D over – Cal ais