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Brittany Ferries cancels cross-Channel route earlier than planned
It comes as the ferry company expands capacity on Ireland routes
Brittany Ferries has ended one of its cross-Channel services earlier than expected this month due to a technical issue.
The Portsmouth-Le Havre route was initially set to end on September 28 as part of a change in the operator’s strategy following financial issues.
Issues with the Commodore Clipper vessel, however, mean that the final few voyages will not be completed, and the route has effectively come to an end.
Local media reports the service has been cancelled since September 16. The exact issue has not been made public.
“We apologise to all affected customers, and are sorry that the route can't complete its final sailings; we know many had hoped to be part of them,” the company said in a statement.
“It has been a pleasure for all at Brittany Ferries to link Portsmouth and Le Havre since 2013. However, the current economic context means the route is no longer viable and, sadly, we have had to make the difficult decision to close it.”
Passengers who held tickets for one of the cancelled journeys can exchange them for another service – routes to Caen, Cherbourg and Saint-Malo are still running from the Hampshire port – or obtain a refund.
The ferry company announced a major shake-up of services following a €27 million emissions bill, citing fewer passengers, Covid loan repayments, and unfair competition as the main reasons for the difficulties.
Ireland upgrade
At the same time, Brittany Ferries is set to increase its capacity between France and Ireland, responding to strong demand from travellers.
The company has chartered a new ferry, the Wexford, which will operate under the French flag. The ferry is currently operating as the Vizzavona and will replace the Norbay on routes between Cherbourg and Rosslare.
The Wexford will operate three weekly return crossings between Cherbourg in Normandy and Rosslare in Ireland, as well as one weekly service between Cherbourg and Portsmouth.
The new services are due to start in March 2027, with bookings opening at the end of October.
“The chartering of our new ship, the Wexford, is a positive step for the company and for the territories we serve in France and Ireland,” Christophe Mathieu, chief executive of the management board of Brittany Ferries, said in a press release.
The ferry will be crewed by French sailors and will increase passenger capacity on the route as the Norbay (which the ferry will be replacing) is mainly designed for freight and has fewer cabins.
The Wexford has 146 cabins and can carry about 130 vehicles. It also has 2,500m of garage space for freight.
The Irish routes will be served by five ships: Santoña, Wexford, Clipper, Armorique and Pont-Aven.
This will allow Brittany Ferries to offer up to seven weekly return crossings between Cherbourg and Rosslare, two between Rosslare and Bilbao in northern Spain, and two between Roscoff in Brittany and Cork.
The announcement follows several developments in Ireland-France ferry links this summer. DFDS added a third vessel to its Rosslare-Dunkirk route in September, increasing services to seven return crossings per week, while Hibernia Line launched a new Cork-Boulogne-sur-Mer service in June.
