Current Brittany Ferries logo

Brittany Ferries is a French ferry company that runs ships between France, the UK, Ireland and Spain. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The ferryboat Dongan Hills, filled with commuters, about to dock at a New York City pier, ca. ...

History

1970s and 1980s

The company was founded in January 1973 by Alexis Gourvennec, and began sailings between Roscoff in Brittany and Plymouth in the South West of England. New routes were introduced throughout the 1970s, and the company continued to grow. The St Malo, Santander and Cork routes were operated by the Armorique and Prince of Brittany. In the early 1980s a second ship was chartered for the Saint-Malo route. The Goelo was an attractive-looking vessel, but left the fleet in preparation for the new ship to be introduced in 1982. The Quiberon replaced the Armorique on the Santander and Cork services, allowing her to operate alongside the Prince of Brittany on the Saint-Malo route. The Cornouailles maintained the original Roscoff route. 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Roscoff (whose name in Breton is Rosko) is a commune in the district of Morlaix in the département of Finistère, in Frances Bretagne région. ... Brittany has an expansive coastline Historical province of Brittany Flag of Brittany (Gwenn-ha-du) région of Bretagne, see Bretagne. ... Plymouth is a city of 243,795 inhabitants (2001 census) in the south-west of England, or alternatively the West Country, and is situated within the traditional and ceremonial county of Devon at the mouths of the rivers Plym and Tamar and at the head of one of the world... The 1980s refers to the years of and between 1980 and 1989. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Brittany Ferries MV Quiberon operated for the company between 1982 and 2002. ...

The Benodet operated Plymouth-Roscoff for just one year before being used as part of Brittany Ferries' new venture, Channel Island Ferries. The Tregastel replaced her and continued on the route until 1989. In 1985 Brittany Ferries further expanded by buying Truckline, which operated freight-only ships between Poole (UK) and Cherbourg (France). 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Poole is a coastal town, port and tourist destination, situated on the shores of the English Channel, in the ceremonial county of Dorset in southern England. ... Cherbourg-Octeville is a town and commune in Normandy, north-west France. ...

In 1986, Brittany Ferries introduced the Duc De Normandie, which operated a new route between the increasingly popular port of Portsmouth and Caen. The former Roscoff ship Cornouailles was transferred to the Truckline Ferries route from Poole to Cherbourg, introducing passenger services on this route. This service was also very successful and new ships were introduced over the next few years. Meanwhile, a second (chartered) ship, the Gotland was installed on the Caen service, as well as a new Truckline vessel, the Normandie Shipper. 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Caen (pronounced /kɑ̃/) is a commune of northwestern France. ...

In 1989 the cruise ferry Bretagne was introduced. She displaced the Quiberon, which transferred to the Roscoff route. Tregastel replaced Cornouailles on the Poole-Cherbourg Truckline Ferries passenger route along with Corbiere (formerly the Benodet who had been transferred to Channel Island Ferries). A second-hand purchase was introduced on the St Malo route, the Duchesse Anne. which was to run alongside the Armorique. This allowed the Prince of Brittany to be transferred to the Caen route under its new name the Reine Mathilde. 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Brittany Ferries MV Quiberon operated for the company between 1982 and 2002. ...

1990s

At the end of 1991, the Reine Mathilde left the fleet ready for the introduction of the new cruise ferry the Normandie on the Caen route. The Corbiere and Tregastel also stepped down in preparation for the new Truckine Ferries ship, the Barfleur. During 1992, the Truckline freight vessel, Purbeck, and the St Malo ship Armorique both stepped down. 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

In 1993, the final new ship of the 1990s was introduced. The Val de Loire was purchased and partially rebuilt for service on the Santander and Cork routes. The vessel replaced the Bretagne which transferred to the St Malo route, allowing the Duchesse Anne to operate new services between Poole, St Malo, Cork, Roscoff and Plymouth. Following further financial difficulties in the mid 1990s, these new routes were ended and the Duchesse Anne left the fleet. The Normandie Shipper was also sold, but the ex-Truckline vessel Purbeck was later chartered back by the company for use on various routes, primarily Portsmouth-Caen. In 1999, the Barfleur was repainted in Brittany Ferries colours, ending the Truckline Ferries tradition on the route. 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with MS King of Scandinavia. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

2000s

In 2001 a new fast ferry service operated between Poole and Cherbourg in partnership with Condor Ferries. The Normandie Vitesse operated the service in just over two hours. In 2002, a new ship, the Mont St Michel, was due to enter service between Portsmouth and Caen. The Duc De Normandie was transferred to the Roscoff route in July, whilst the Quiberon was sent to Caen to cover until the new ship arrived. The Mont St Michel was delayed until December however. The Quiberon spent the remainder of the year on the busiest Brittany Ferries route. She had been with the company for almost 21 years when she was sold in 2003. In 2004, another new ship, the Pont-Aven, was introduced on the Santander & Cork routes. She could travel much faster than the rest of the fleet, cutting journey times by a quarter. This allowed the Val de Loire to join the Bretagne on the St Malo route. Both ships also provided a new mid-week link to Cherbourg from Portsmouth. 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Condor Ferries is the current operator of ferry services between the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Brittany Ferries MV Quiberon operated for the company between 1982 and 2002. ... Brittany Ferries MV Quiberon operated for the company between 1982 and 2002. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In late 2004, the Duc De Normandie was withdrawn from the fleet. The Bretagne was transferred to the Roscoff route, leaving the Val de Loire at St Malo. The Coutances was also earmarked for disposal, but then a change of heart saw her being refitted, losing her Truckline livery in favour of the new Brittany Ferries logo. 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

More changes occurred in 2005 with the withdrawal of P&O's French routes from Portsmouth. A new fast craft, the Normandie Express was chartered to operate between Portsmouth and Cherbourg and Caen. In addition, the Poole-Cherbourg ship Barfleur was redeployed to operate a triangular service between Portsmouth, Poole and Cherbourg. A new ship has been announced, in part a replacement for the Coutances. The ship will be named the Cotentin. Purbeck was to have returned from operating in New Zealand and cover the Portsmouth-Cherbourg link but this plan has been dropped. Barfleur returned to the Poole-Cherbourg link in November 2005. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company or P&O is a shipping line which started in 1840 after the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company won the British Admiralty contract to carry the mail overseas in 1837. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The former flagship of the fleet (from 1993 until the arrival of the Mont St Michel) Val de Loire left the fleet in February 2006, having been sold to DFDS and renamed King of Scandinavia. In the meantime, Brittany Ferries have taken a 2 year charter of the DFDS ship Duke of Scandinavia, which will be renamed Pont-L'Abbé and run on the Plymouth-Roscoff route. The Bretagne will return to the Portsmouth-St Malo route. Brittany Ferries have also announced a new build for the Plymouth-Roscoff route, to be launched early 2008. In February 2006 the Normandie Express was brought under the French flag. DFDS Headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Current fleet

The current fleet is as follows.

Passenger/freight ferries

• MV Barfleur (built 1992)
• MV Bretagne (built 1989)
• MV Mont St Michel (built 2002)
• MV Normandie (built 1992)
• MV Pont-Aven (built 2004)
• MV Pont L'Abbé (built 1978, on charter from DFDS as of March 2006)

The M/V Barfleur is a ferry operated by Brittany Ferries. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... The M/V Bretagne is a ferry operated by Brittany Ferries. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The MV Mont St Michel is a ferry operated by Brittany Ferries. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... The M/V Normandie is a ferry operated by Brittany Ferries. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... The M/V Pont-Aven is a ferry operated by Brittany Ferries. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The M/V Pont LAbbé is a ferry operated by Brittany Ferries. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... DFDS Headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Freight ferries

• MV Coutances (built 1978, purchased 1985)

The M/V Coutances is a freight ferry operated by Brittany Ferries. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Fast craft

• Normandie Express (built 2000, chartered 2005-2007, purchased January 2007)
• Normandie Vitesse (formerly known as Brittany Ferries Condor Vitesse also known as Condor Vitesse, in use since 2001. Condor Vitesse is the vessel's official name.)

The HSC Normandie Express is a fast catamaran ferry owned by Incat and operated by Brittany Ferries on charter. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... The HSC Condor Vitesse is a 86m fast catamaran ferry operated by Condor Ferries. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

New Ships

• MV Cotentin (to be deployed between Poole/Portsmouth and Cherbourg/Santander - expected delivery late 2007. This ship is the vessel codenamed Coutances II)

• MV Armorique (to be deployed between Plymouth and Roscoff - expected delivery in 2008. This ship is the vessel codenamed Bretagne II )

The M/V Cotentin is a freight ferry currently on order by Brittany Ferries from Aker Finnyards in Finland. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... The M/V Armorique is a passenger and freight ferry currently on order by Brittany Ferries from Aker Finnyards in Finland at a cost of £81 million. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar next year. ...

Services

Regular services

• Plymouth-Roscoff (Pont-L'Abbé, Pont-Aven, certain winter sailings operated by Bretagne)
• Plymouth-Santander (Pont-Aven with winter service operated by Bretagne)
• Poole-Cherbourg (Barfleur, Coutances, Normandie Vitesse (BF trading name for Condor Vitesse)
• Portsmouth-St Malo (Bretagne with winter service operated by Pont-Aven)
• Portsmouth-Ouistreham (Caen) (Mont St Michel, Normandie, Normandie Express, refit cover provided by Bretagne)
• Roscoff-Cork (Pont-Aven, ocassionally Bretagne)

Plymouth is a city of 243,795 inhabitants (2001 census) in the south-west of England, or alternatively the West Country, and is situated within the traditional and ceremonial county of Devon at the mouths of the rivers Plym and Tamar and at the head of one of the world... Roscoff (whose name in Breton is Rosko) is a commune in the district of Morlaix in the département of Finistère, in Frances Bretagne région. ... Plymouth is a city of 243,795 inhabitants (2001 census) in the south-west of England, or alternatively the West Country, and is situated within the traditional and ceremonial county of Devon at the mouths of the rivers Plym and Tamar and at the head of one of the world... Cantabria Population (2004) 183,799 inhabitants Area 34 km² Altitude 15 metres, at its peak Population density (2004) 5406 people/km² The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain between Asturias (to the west) and the Basque... Poole is a coastal town, port and tourist destination, situated on the shores of the English Channel, in the ceremonial county of Dorset in southern England. ... Cherbourg is a city of Normandy, in northwestern France, in the Manche département, of which it is a sous_préfecture. ... For other places with the same name, see Portsmouth (disambiguation). ... Categories: France geography stubs | Communes of Ille-et-Vilaine ... For other places with the same name, see Portsmouth (disambiguation). ... Ouistreham is a commune of the Calvados département, in the Basse-Normandie région, in France. ... Caen (pronounced /kɑ̃/) is a commune of northwestern France. ... Roscoff (whose name in Breton is Rosko) is a commune in the district of Morlaix in the département of Finistère, in Frances Bretagne région. ... This article is about the city in Ireland. ...

Seasonal services

• Portsmouth-Cherbourg (Normandie Express)

The route ended its 2006 summer season service on 28 October. In 2007 the route will only operate from 23 March 2007 to 29 October 2007. There will be no regular conventional ferry service.

Occasional services run between Plymouth and St Malo during the winter months. For other places with the same name, see Portsmouth (disambiguation). ... Cherbourg is a city of Normandy, in northwestern France, in the Manche département, of which it is a sous_préfecture. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

Onboard facilities

Brittany Ferries' vessels have a variety of onboard facilities. These include shops, self-service and A la Carte restaurants, bars and cafes. All vessels have a bureau de change on board. Most vessels have a cinema and gambling/gaming machines. In the past, the on-board shops often included a photography shop with film developing and printing facilities; however, the increase in popularity of digital photography has led to these shops being removed. A Bureau de Change is an organisation or facility which allows customers to exchange one currency for another. ... The term gambling has had many different meanings depending on the cultural and historical context in which it is used. ... Photography is the process of making pictures by means of capturing light on a light-sensitive medium, such as a sensor or film. ... 10 MP Nikon D200 and a Nikon film scanner The Canon EOS 350D The Canon PowerShot A95 Digital photography, as opposed to film photography, uses electronic devices to record the image as binary data. ...

The fast craft have more limited facilities, such as a smaller shop and a bar/cafe.

External links

• Official Brittany Ferries site
• Official Brittany Ferries UK site
• Official Brittany Ferries Holidays in France and Spain site
• Official Brittany Ferries French site
• Official Brittany Ferries Irish site
• Official Brittany Ferries German site
• Official Brittany Ferries Spanish site
• Brittany Ferries Enthusiasts - Unofficial Guide to the Western Channel ferry company.