During a visit to the new RoPax SAINT-MALO, Ferry Shipping News spoke with Brittany Ferries CEO Christophe Mathieu about the company’s ambitious fleet renewal programme, the challenges of ETS, and his views on maintaining fair competition in the Channel market.
https://ferryshippingnews.com/brittany-ferries-ceo-on-fleet-renewal-ets-and-fair-competition/
In Summary
Between June and September 2025, Brittany Ferries carried over 1.2 million passengers across its 12 routes — a 3% increase compared with 2024. This third consecutive summer of growth confirms the company’s sustainable development trajectory. Annual results, expected in spring 2026, should reinforce this trend.
“The strong summer results show that our strategy is working and that our business model is solid. Brittany Ferries continues to grow with regularity and ambition,”
said Christophe Mathieu, CEO of Brittany Ferries.
2025 has been a landmark year for the company, highlighted by the delivery of SAINT-MALO and GUILLAUME DE NORMANDIE — the first hybrid LNG/electric/bio-LNG ferries in the EU, setting new standards for environmental performance. The launch of the multinational “motorway of the sea” between the Iberian Peninsula and the British Isles via Cherbourg has also strengthened Brittany Ferries’ position on the Atlantic Arc.
“We’ve regained our pre-Covid business levels, secured French maritime jobs and met the challenge of the energy transition. We now call for fair and proportional support under the ETS scheme to continue our decarbonisation journey,”
said Jean-Marc Roué, Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
Regional Highlights
Normandy: +4.5% passengers
604,130 passengers travelled on Norman routes (+4.5%), led by Caen–Portsmouth (+3%) following the introduction of the hybrid GUILLAUME DE NORMANDIE. Other strong results include:
Brittany: Stable traffic, freight surge
Passenger numbers remained stable at 393,471, while freight volumes rose sharply, boosted by SAINT-MALO, which entered service in February 2025. The route carried 2,390 freight units this summer (+84% year on year).
France–Ireland–Spain Corridor: +7%
Passenger traffic totalled 141,109, up 7%, driven by Cherbourg–Rosslare (+37%) and Rosslare–Bilbao (+9%). Daily sailings on Cherbourg–Rosslare have now begun, reinforcing this strategic link.
UK–Spain: +3%
Long-distance routes between the UK and Spain grew by 3%, with Plymouth–Santander up 6% and Portsmouth–Bilbao up 3%.
Guernsey: +59%
Traffic to Guernsey rose by an impressive 59% year on year.
“These results reflect bold choices: fleet renewal, next-generation ships and agility in seizing new opportunities like Cherbourg–Rosslare. They also highlight the dedication of our teams and partners,”
added Christophe Mathieu.
Access the press release with individual route statistics
Gianluigi Aponte’s Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has been forced to divest its 49% stake in Moby, the ferry company owned by the Onorato family operating between Italy and the islands of Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily.
Italy’s Antitrust Authority announced on 24 October [in Italian] that it has accepted and made binding the commitments offered by MSC’s Shipping Agencies Services (SAS), Moby, and Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV), setting the terms of the divestment.
Under the settlement with the Competition Authority, SAS — a sub-holding of MSC — will transfer its 49% shareholding in Moby, free of charge, to Onorato Armatori, and will relinquish its pledge on the remaining 51%. The companies have also agreed to provide compensation to consumers who purchased tickets on Moby ferries.
It is also a setback for Moby, which has been ordered to repay the loan granted by Aponte’s group. The company announced a financial restructuring plan that includes the sale of assets. The proceeds will be used to repay the loan, while maintaining operations through charter-back agreements on some of the sold assets. If the proceeds are insufficient to cover the debt, the remaining amount will be transferred to independent third parties on terms safeguarding Moby’s financial stability.
The divestment is considered a win for the Grimaldi Group, which had challenged MSC’s investment in Moby on competition grounds.
Gotlandsbolaget is among the investors behind the newly launched Brommaflyg, created to secure long-term air connections between Gotland and the Swedish mainland.
The airline resumes the Visby–Bromma route, historically vital in linking the island to Stockholm and the rest of Sweden.
The initiative complements ferry traffic and strengthens Gotland’s accessibility for residents, businesses, and visitors.
Gotlandsbolaget’s CEO Björn Nilsson said: “We are proud to contribute to securing an important part of Gotland’s transport infrastructure. The flight offer complements the ferry traffic and strengthens Gotland’s attractiveness.”
Gotlandsbolaget and Destination Gotland will continue to focus on ferry operations but view the investment as a natural extension of their long-term commitment to Gotland’s development.
Brommaflyg was founded by entrepreneur Henrik Svensson (SwedProd Graphics) together with Gotlandsbolaget, Johan Gate and Patrik Rees (Tofta Intressenter AB), ICA retailer Paul “Dino” Larsson, and entrepreneurs Kent Hansson and Sakarias Ronquist.
The first flight took off on 26 October 2025, with 46 departures planned per week.
SPIRIT OF TASMANIA V, the second new RoPax built by Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC), has departed Finland for her home port of Devonport, Tasmania.
Photo Elmeri Elo / Rauma Marine Constructions
Associated British Ports (ABP), has completed a £200,000 upgrade to the East Pier Linkspan at the Port of Troon, ensuring continued support for a reliable lifeline ferry service to the Isle of Arran (Scotland).
Photo: Airborne Lens
