Passenger favourite Bretagne back in service after lengthy absence
French ferry company Brittany Ferries had more than one reason to celebrate last weekend. As well as the entry to service of its first LNG-fuelled ferry SALAMANCA, the company also welcomed the return to service of its first large purpose-built ferry.
BRETAGNE, which had been laid up since Autumn 2020, returned to service last Saturday night with a sailing from Saint Malo to Portsmouth. This allowed ARMORIQUE, which had been operating the route in BRETAGNE’s absence, to return to her usual Plymouth – Roscoff route.
ARMORIQUE joins PONT AVEN on the historic link between Devon and Brittany which was the company’s first service.
Poole – Cherbourg reopens
With BRETAGNE back in service, the company is on track to offer a full timetable for the first time since services were cut back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NORMANDIE is currently in dry dock but is expected to return later this week. This will allow the BARFLEUR to re-open the Poole – Cherbourg service.
Fast-craft sailings are also returning to Brittany Ferries this summer, with CONDOR LIBERATION sailing between Portsmouth, Cherbourg and Poole from the second week of July. The trimaran will sail Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until the first week of September under an arrangement with Condor Ferries. Her sailings will be supplemented by weekly calls of both SALAMANCA and part-sister GALICIA. This arrangement will provide a total five return sailings per week between Portsmouth and the Cotentîn peninsula.
The core of the Brittany Ferries’ services between England and Spain will be operated by the company’s newest ships, SALAMANCA and GALICIA. These will primarily serve the Portsmouth – Bilbao and Santander routes respectively. The twice-weekly Plymouth to Santander route will again be operated by PONT AVEN.
