Ferry operator will work with the port until 2031, in which time two new ships will homeport there
By
Elly Yates-Roberts |
Brittany Ferries has extended its partnership with Portsmouth International Port, UK, adding five years to a joint long-term agreement which will now end in 2031.
Between now and then, Brittany Ferries will add three new ships to its fleet which will sail to Europe. As of 2021, Galicia and Salamanca will join LNG-powered sister ship Honfleur to homeport in Portsmouth.
The new ferries will not only increase freight numbers, but also the number of tourists using the service. The port currently welcomes over 1.8 million passengers each year through Brittany Ferries alone, making it one of the busiest ferry routes from the UK to France and Spain.
“This commitment from our largest customer helps to underpin significant capital investment and demonstrates the importance of our valued partnership with Brittany Ferries,” said Mike Sellers, director of Portsmouth International Port. “As a major UK port and the most successful municipal port, we want to continue in making sure we meet industry expectations, and this means substantial improvements.
“We’re looking forward to working with Brittany Ferries to deliver the best experience for their customers, and for the benefit of the wider region, economically and environmentally, as we both have a shared goal to become the most sustainable port in the UK.”
To ensure the port can meet customer expectations, a £19 million (US$24 million) investment was recently approved to upgrade its facilities and infrastructure. Major projects will include replacing the 30-year-old passenger boarding tower which gives foot passengers access to the ships, as well as installing a new energy-efficient £9 million (US$11 million) linkspan to enable vehicles to get on and off ferries.
“Brittany Ferries is delighted to reaffirm its commitment to Portsmouth International Port, our international hub for operations serving France and Spain,” said Christophe Mathieu, CEO of Brittany Ferries. “Extending our relationship until 2032 will provide further certainty for future plans and supports the ongoing investment we are making in fleet renewal.”