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Brittany Ferries

Aug 08
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Brittany Ferries Boosts Ireland Service with Daily Rosslare Link

By 2025 Newsletter week 32
  • Brittany Ferries will launch a daily Cherbourg–Rosslare service from October 2025.
  • Follows withdrawal of Stena Line and increased demand for freight and passenger services.
  • Freight traffic on the route rose by 114% since its 2021 launch, reaching 18,233 units.
  • Passenger numbers grew 40% in 2024, totalling 45,700.

Fleet Deployment (subject to seasonal rotation):

  • October: COTENTIN, SALAMANCA, CLIPPER
  • November: GALICIA, SALAMANCA, ARMORIQUE
  • December–March: GALICIA, SALAMANCA, COTENTIN
  • This rotation boosts combined freight and passenger capacity by 25%.

Stakeholder Statements:

  • Jean-Marc Roué (Chairman): Praises trust from Rosslare and Cherbourg ports; highlights crew and staff dedication.
  • Christophe Mathieu (CEO): Sees this as a step forward in Atlantic Arc connectivity and intermodal logistics.
  • Philippe Deiss (Ports of Normandy): Underlines importance of maintaining balanced RoRo/Pax services post-Brexit.
  • Glenn Carr (Rosslare Europort): Welcomes the expansion, noting a sixfold increase in direct EU links since Brexit.
Jul 18
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Brittany Ferries: New Rail Terminal in Cherbourg Connects Spain to UK & Ireland

By 2025 Newsletter week 29

On 17 July, the new rail motorway terminal in Cherbourg was inaugurated.

It links Cherbourg to Mouguerre (south-west France), enabling intermodal freight between Spain, Ireland, and the UK.

Cherbourg handled 91,866 trailers in 2024, confirming its role as a key RoRo hub post-Brexit.

The €11.2m terminal, co-financed by local, national, and EU funds, is equipped with LOHR technology for fast trailer transfer.

Brittany Ferries’ rail subsidiary BAI Rail operates the service, aiming for 6 weekly round trips from Sept 2025, with a daily service by 2030.

Jun 20
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Brittany Ferries Reinstates Winter Poole–Cherbourg Service

By 2025 Newsletter week 25
  • Brittany Ferries will operate a daily passenger and freight service between Poole and Cherbourg from 14 December 2025 to 29 March 2026.
  • The route will be served by COMMODORE CLIPPER during the winter period.
  • From 29 March 2026, BARFLEUR will resume service on the route.

Key Points:

  • Confirms Brittany Ferries’ long-term commitment to the Port of Poole.
  • Supports resilient year-round UK–France maritime connectivity.
  • Aims to bolster the regional economy and maintain vital cross-Channel links.

New Rail-Ferry Freight Link:

  • Poole to become UK hub for Brittany Ferries’ new Bayonne–Cherbourg–Poole freight corridor.
  • First rail-connected trailers expected this month.

Source: Poole Harbour Commissioners

Jun 14
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Brittany Ferries Celebrates the Joys of ‘Uncommon Holidays’

By 2025 Newsletter week 24
  • Brittany Ferries is promoting its Uncommon Holidays campaign with a vivid and emotive ad capturing the charm and spontaneity of ferry travel.
  • The creative showcases a long-form story made up of memories and sensory moments, highlighting the uniqueness of travel to France via ferry.
  • Experiences range from spotting dolphins mid-Channel and visiting pink onion festivals to enjoying croissants with a sea breeze and exploring hidden Breton gems.
  • The narrative reinforces the benefits of ferry travel: freedom, flexibility, family moments, and the ability to bring more luggage — or even the family pet.
  • The campaign concludes with a clear call-to-action: “Saving up to 30% on your sailing when you book an Uncommon Holiday with Brittany Ferries.”
  • It aligns with Brittany Ferries’ brand message of creating enriching, off-the-beaten-path travel experiences.
May 30
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Brittany Ferries Signs EU AI Pact

By 2025 Newsletter week 22

Brittany Ferries has become the first French maritime company to sign the European Pact on Artificial Intelligence.

A Responsible and Ethical AI Strategy

The company commits to:

  • Implementing strong AI governance.
  • Raising staff awareness.
  • Engaging with European partners on best practices.
  • Defining strategic priorities.

A governance strategy was initiated in 2024 to:

  • Manage risks of generative AI.
  • Develop staff skills.
  • Promote ethical innovation.

Anne-Laure Fabre, member of Brittany Ferries’ AI Governance Committee, said:

“We put people at the heart of our AI approach. It’s not about the power of AI, but how we control it to align with our values, manage risks, and support sustainable innovation.”

Concrete Initiatives

  • Governance:
    A dedicated AI committee was formed in February 2024. A governance charter was shared with teams from January 2024.
  • Training:
    A learning community launched in November 2024. A second cohort is planned for September 2025, focusing on virtual assistants to improve working conditions and operations.
    An e-learning course explains the risks and uses of generative AI.
  • Transparency:
    Internal logo created to mark AI-assisted content verified by humans.
  • Compliance:
    Inventory of high-risk AI tools to ensure legal conformity.

Brittany Ferries promotes a human-centric, field-based AI approach—serving both employees and customers.

May 17
Love3

DIGITAL

By 2025 Newsletter week 20

Brittany Ferries and Visit Group Join Forces to Drive Digital Transformation

“Our goal is to increase holiday passenger volumes by 15% over the next five years”

Maria Mathieu, Head of Digital Products at Brittany Ferries

Brittany Ferries has partnered with Visit Group to modernize its digital booking systems. This collaboration aims to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency by adopting Visit Group’s modular platform. The new system will offer real-time availability and pricing, streamline internal processes, and support Brittany Ferries’ goal of increasing holiday passenger numbers by 15% over the next five years.

Visit Group provides smart software and technology for the experience and hospitality industry- enabling seamless operations, effortless room and ticket sales, tailored packaging of stays with experiences, and consistent revenue growth across channels.

Read more: https://www.visitgroup.com/visit-group-welcomes-brittany-ferries-new-partner-digital-transformation-journey

Mar 21
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FINANCE

By 2025 Newsletter week 12

Brittany Ferries: A Stabilised Return to Growth in 2024

Brittany Ferries has reported strong operational results for 2024, confirming its stabilised return to growth. The company’s consolidated revenue (excluding Condor Ferries) reached €516 million, marking a 6.5% increase from 2023.

The passenger sector continues its steady recovery, with nearly 2 million passengers transported, a 6.5% rise compared to the previous year. Growth was particularly strong on the Channel routes, where Brittany Ferries outperformed its competitors. Freight volumes also increased by 4%, with the Spanish and Irish routes leading the way at +8.3%.

Despite the introduction of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which added an €8 million cost in 2024, Brittany Ferries maintains solid operational profitability. The company has also significantly reduced its Covid-related debt, fulfilling commitments to repay regional loans and progressing towards a 50% reduction in its state-guaranteed loan by the end of 2025.

Strategic decisions taken over the past decade, particularly the development of long-haul routes to Spain and Ireland, now contribute nearly half of Brittany Ferries’ total revenue. These results reinforce the company’s leadership in sustainable maritime transport, as it continues investing in fleet decarbonisation and innovation.

Brittany Ferries’ resilience is further reflected in the confidence of new private investors and the unwavering support of its historical shareholders. With the introduction of Europe’s two largest hybrid ferries in 2024, the company remains at the forefront of innovation in the maritime sector.

Jan 10
Love2

Jersey: DFDS Guernsey: Brittany Ferries

By 2025 Newsletter week 02

Now it is official: the two Channel Islands, Jersey and Guernsey, will each have a separate ferry company deserving each island.

Early December 2024, the Government of Guernsey has signed a contract with Brittany Ferries for 15 years. Brittany Ferries is the parent company of Condor Ferries.

End of December, the Government of Jersey has signed a contract with DFDS for 20 years.

A DFDS news release explains:

  • Under the contract, DFDS will provide passenger and freight services to the UK and France: routes from Jersey to Poole, Portsmouth and Saint Malo.
  • Two primary focus areas for the ferry operation: life-line freight and passenger services for Jersey residents and tourism.
  • The last three quarters of 2025, the total number of passengers on the routes are expected to amount to around 400k of which more than half are related to tourism. The majority of freight volumes (mainly unaccompanied trailers) are transported between Portsmouth and Jersey.
  • For the last three quarters of 2025, freight volumes are expected to amount to around 450k lane metres.
  • The four ferries to be deployed include two HSCs (high-speed craft), one RoPax ferry, and one RoRo ferry.
  • As part of the concession agreement, DFDS is planning to renew the deployed fleet through mainly introduction of new-buildings between 2030 and 2032.

Quid Saint-Malo?

 Brittany Ferries submitted its schedules for 2025 to the Port of Saint-Malo on 14 November, one day earlier than DFDS. As a result, Brittany – Condor Ferries is given scheduling priority for the Port of Saint-Malo in 2025.

It will be interesting to see how Saint-Malo copes with the berthing arrangements for the different competitors.

Remark:

As of December 2023, the estimated populations of the two main Channel Islands are:

  • Jersey: approximately 103,650 residents.
  • Guernsey: approximately 64,781 residents.
  • Bailiwick of Guernsey includes Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Herm.

Photo: Mike Louagie

Dec 02
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Brittany Ferries Submits Jersey-Only Ferry Bid, Advocates for Joined-Up Approach

By 2024 Newsletter week 48

Brittany Ferries, majority shareholder in Condor Ferries, confirmed its bid for the Jersey-only ferry service, asserting its expertise and readiness to serve Jersey for the next 15 years.

CEO Christophe Mathieu welcomed the independent assessment process announced by Jersey Ministers and expressed trust in its integrity. “We recognise past challenges but now is the time to move forward,” he stated.

Brittany Ferries remains prepared for both Jersey-specific and unified service models. “Our ships, schedules, and systems are ready for a joined-up approach benefiting both islands,” Mathieu added, emphasising the efficiency of a single operator for mainland and intra-island services.

The company pledged adherence to service and pricing commitments, while carefully monitoring the process.

Source: Brittany Ferries Newsroom

Oct 25
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Brittany Ferries Unveils Hybrid-Powered SAINT-MALO Ahead of 2025 Launch

By 2024 Newsletter week 43

Brittany Ferries has taken delivery of its first hybrid-powered ferry, running on LNG and electricity. Chartered by Somabret, a consortium uniting the Brittany Region and its four departments, this vessel is set to enter service in February 2025 on the daily route between Saint-Malo and Portsmouth.

The ferry, built for owner Stena RoRo, now bears the Brittany Ferries logo and is awaiting final administrative steps before flying the French flag.

A significant green revolution is underway for Brittany’s ports. By using LNG instead of marine gas oil, the ferry will significantly cut local emissions. Additionally, CO2 emissions are expected to drop by 20-25%. The optimised hybrid system, coupled with the electrification of the ports, will further decrease overall energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, allowing the ferry to operate emission-free while entering and leaving Saint-Malo.

Looking ahead, Brittany Ferries has also trialled the use of bio-LNG on two ships in Santander, Spain. This renewable energy source, derived from organic waste, can reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 100% compared to conventional LNG. The switch to bio-LNG requires no modifications to the ships’ engines and does not compromise their performance, making it a promising solution for the future of green maritime transport.

Before the Saint-Malo ferry begins service on 12 February 2025, several tasks remain. These include port tests, the validation of LNG refuelling procedures, and the installation of IT and commercial systems. Crews will also undergo mandatory training. Additionally, as is tradition with Brittany Ferries, contemporary artists have been commissioned to create approximately 400 artworks that will be displayed throughout the ship.