Cruise & Ferry Review - Autumn/Winter 2021

7 5 Travel restrictions between the UK and France were relaxed for summer 2021, allowing Brittany Ferries to offer more services from Portsmouth again whether we will be able to provide it. Similarly, there’s no point in buying new ships if we can achieve an effective fleet renewal by chartering vessels instead. It’s a more cost-effective approach that we have adopted by signing a charter agreement for two new hybrid LNG- electric vessels from Stena RoRo.” Expected to join the fleet in 2024 and 2025, the two new hybrid LNG- electric ferries have been leased for 10 years as part of Brittany Ferries’ fleet renewal plan. One vessel will replace Normandie on the route between Portsmouth, UK, and Caen, France, while the other will supplant Bretagne on the service between Portsmouth and St Malo, France. They will operate on LNG fuel while at sea but will switch to running partially or completely on battery power while in port and in the English Channel. When berthed in port, the vessels will also be able to connect to shore power facilities to recharge the onboard batteries and generate power for systems like air conditioning, heating and lighting, thereby eliminating funnel emissions. Both vessels will offer additional cabins and bigger parking garages than on Normandie and Bretagne, enabling Brittany Ferries to increase passenger and freight capacity on night crossings. Armed with new charter agreements and a five-year, post-Covid recovery strategy, Mathieu is optimistic for the future of both Brittany Ferries and the global ferry industry. “We could be about to see the renaissance of ferry travel,” he predicts. “Social distancing comes as standard on a large ship, and ferry companies serve destinations that are a world away from the daily norm, but not too far away from home. That gives us a big competitive advantage, and it’s one that Brittany Ferries is capitalising on thanks to the introduction of our cleaner, greener vessels. Our new ships will truly make the journey part of the passengers’ holidays, rather than just serving as a bridge to their final destination.” CFR “ We could be about to see the renaissance of ferry travel” Photo: Brittany Ferries