View source for Brittany Ferries

{{Short description|French (Breton) ferry operator}}
{{About|the ferry company|the historic trimaran|Brittany Ferries (trimaran)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Brittany Ferries
| logo = Logo bf original bloc marque.jpg
| image = MV Pont Aven.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt = A white painted ship moving from right to left
| image_caption = {{MV|Pont-Aven||2}} departing from Portsmouth
| type = [[Private company]]
| predecessor = 
| successor = 
| founder = [[Alexis Gourvennec]]
| defunct = 
| fate = 
| area_served = [[France]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Ireland]], [[Spain]]
| key_people = Jean-Marc Roué<br>Christophe Mathieu<br>Frédéric Pouget<br>Corinne Vintner
| industry = Passenger transportation<br>Freight transportation<br>Holidays
| products = 
| services = 
| revenue = {{increase}} €444.2&nbsp;million (2018)
| operating_income = 
| net_income = 
| aum = 
| assets = €444.2&nbsp;million (2018)
| equity = 
| owner = BAI Bretagne Angleterre Irlande S.A.
| num_employees = {{decrease}} 2,787 (2018 average - high and low seasons)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://corporate.brittany-ferries.com/en/iso_album/2014bilancaconsolide.pdf|title=Brittany Ferries Bilan Consolidé (Balance Sheet), including employee numbers|work=Brittany Ferries Corporate}}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| parent = 
| divisions = 
| subsid = 
| footnotes = 
| intl = 
| caption = 
| foundation = 1973
| location_city = 
| location_country = 
| location = [[Roscoff]], [[France]]
| locations = 
| homepage = {{url|brittany-ferries.co.uk}}<br>{{url|brittany-ferries.fr}}<br/>{{url|brittany-ferries.ie}}
}}

'''Brittany Ferries''' is the trading name of the French shipping company, BAI Bretagne Angleterre Irlande S.A. founded in 1973 by [[Alexis Gourvennec]], that operates a fleet of ferries and cruiseferries between France and the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Spain, and between Spain and Ireland and the United Kingdom.

==History==
[[File:Brittanyferries1980s.png|thumb|Brittany Ferries logo until 1984]]BAI (Bretagne Angleterre Irlande) S.A. was founded by [[Alexis Gourvennec]]. Working with fellow Breton farmers, Gourvennec lobbied for improvements to Brittany's infrastructure, including better roads, telephone network, education and port access. By 1972 he had successfully secured funding and work to develop a deep-water [[Port of Bloscon-Roscoff|port at Roscoff]]. Gourvennec had no desire to run a ferry service, but existing operators showed little appetite for the opportunity.

The company itself began sailings on 2 January 1973 between [[Roscoff]] in [[Brittany]] and [[Plymouth]] in the South West of England, using the freight ferry ''Kerisnel'', a former Israeli tank carrier. The company's primary aim at that time was to exploit opportunities presented by the UK's entry into the [[European Common Market]], forerunner to the [[European Union]], in order to export directly to markets in the United Kingdom.

In 1974, ''Kerisnel'' was replaced by ''Penn-Ar-Bed'', which carried both passengers and vehicles, and the BAI company adopted the name Brittany Ferries.<ref name=Hoyle&Pinder>{{cite book |editor1-last=Hoyle |editor1-first=B S |editor2-last=Pinder |editor2-first=David |title=European Port Cities in Transition |date=1992 |publisher=Belhaven Press in association with the British Association for the Advancement of Science |location=London |isbn=9780470219263 |page=92}}</ref>

In late 2009, the new [[Poole]]–[[Santander, Spain|Santander]] freight-only service was deemed a success and the frequency was doubled: there would now be two services a week operated by ''Cotentin''. In November 2009, ''Armorique'' was laid up for the rest of the winter season. Major changes were announced in December 2009. ''Barfleur'' was withdrawn from service at the end of January 2010 after nearly 18 years service on the Poole–[[Cherbourg]] route. The service was temporarily served by ''Armorique'', which came back to service earlier than originally planned. The Poole–Santander service reverted to one sailing a week with ''Cotentin'' covering freight on the Poole–Cherbourg service in the absence of ''Barfleur''. ''Condor Vitesse'' continued to operate one round sailing a day in the summer months between the two ports. ''Cap Finistère'' ran between [[Portsmouth]] and Santander twice a week and also operated three round trips a week between Portsmouth and Cherbourg. In September 2010, Brittany Ferries announced plans to serve the Portsmouth–[[Bilbao]] route recently abandoned by P&O Ferries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.traveldaily.co.uk/AsiaPacificNews/Detail.aspx?Section=20510 |title=Brittany Ferries saves Portsmouth–Bilbao route |work=Travel News UK |date=27 September 2010 |access-date=8 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204012443/http://traveldaily.co.uk/AsiaPacificNews/Detail.aspx?Section=20510 |archive-date=4 December 2010 }}</ref> The route started on 27 March 2011.

On 21 September 2012, Brittany Ferries cancelled sailings indefinitely following two days of [[Wildcat strike action|wildcat strikes]] caused by crew members who were unhappy with changes in working terms and conditions. Meetings took place between management and unions to negotiate the management proposals. A vote was taken on 30 September by union members to decide if the management proposals would be accepted. The crew members accepted the proposal and services resumed on 2 October after 12 days without services. During this period, Brittany Ferries made special arrangements with P&O Ferries and [[MyFerryLink]] to accept tickets on the Dover–Calais route. Unused tickets were refunded.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19671784|title=Brittany Ferries services halted 'until further notice'|work=BBC News|date=21 September 2012|access-date=23 September 2012}}</ref> Services were not affected on the Poole–Cherbourg route which was being operated by [[Condor Ferries]].

[[File:Brittany ferries logo.svg|thumb|Brittany Ferries logo until 2018|228x228px]]
In 2018, Brittany Ferries commenced service between [[Cork (city)|Cork]], Ireland, and Santander. This was cancelled and effectively replaced in February 2020 by the [[Rosslare Europort|Rosslare]]–Bilbao service which runs twice weekly.<ref>[https://www.rte.ie/news/leinster/2020/0228/1118193-rosslare-bilboa-ferry/ New Rosslare to Bilbao ferry service sets sail] by Conor O'Kane, RTE News, February 28, 2020.</ref> A seasonal service between Rosslare and Roscoff is also offered.<ref>[https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/brittany-ferries-announces-new-services-to-spain-and-france-from-rosslare-1.4155053 Brittany Ferries announces new services to Spain and France from Rosslare] Irish Times, January 29, 2020.</ref>

From late March 2020, due to the ongoing [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Brittany Ferries was forced to cancel all passenger sailings until 15 May 2020 after British government advice was issued against all travel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-04-06 |title=Foreign Office advises against all travel 'indefinitely' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/coronavirus-foreign-office-travel-advice-warning-fco-uk-government-a9448986.html |access-date=2021-04-15 |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en }}</ref> Initially they had been offering refund vouchers valid for 2 years for affected customers. Many customers were unsatisfied with vouchers and had requested a refund. Brittany Ferries had begun to issue refunds in the last week of April for customers that wished for a refund. Customers were entitled to a refund under EU regulation 1177/2010.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-13 |title=My Ferry has been Delayed or Cancelled – Could I Be Entitled to Compensation? |url=https://www.niferry.co.uk/ferry-delay-cancellation-compensation/ |access-date=2021-04-15 |website=NI Ferry Site |language=en }}</ref>

[[File:The Solent , Brittany Ferry leaves Portsmouth Harbour - geograph.org.uk - 2880027.jpg|thumb|{{MV|Normandie||2}} passing the [[Spinnaker Tower]]]]
On 23 July 2020, Brittany Ferries announced the launch of a brand new Rosslare–Cherbourg service. 

On 19 August 2020, as a consequence of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, the company confirmed that it was reducing ferry services from the end of August and laying up various ships, beginning with ''Armorique'' and ''Bretagne''. Further schedule changes were likely in the months ahead, the company confirmed in March 2021. It also confirmed the launch of a five-year recover plan following the loss of more than half of its revenue, the consequence of restrictions on passenger traffic in all markets in which it operates. <ref>{{cite news |title=Brittany Ferries to cut passenger sailings |work=[[BBC News Online]] |date=19 August 2020 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-53832178 |access-date=19 August 2020 }}</ref>

On 20 July 2021, Brittany Ferries announced at a press conference in [[Paris]] that it had secured a charter with Stena RoRo for 2 more E-Flexers. The new vessels are due to replace the {{MV|Normandie}} on the [[Portsmouth]]–[[Caen]] route and {{MV|Bretagne}} on the [[Portsmouth]]–[[Saint-Malo|St Malo]] Route. The charter is expected to run for 10 years with the option to purchase after 4 years. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/bretagne/transmanche-brittany-ferries-annonce-la-commande-de-deux-navires-fonctionnant-au-gnl-e1488d8c-e93a-11eb-bcab-4da56ecb9b3f |title=Brittany Ferries announces order for two LNG-powered vessels |first=Olivier |last=Mélennec |work=[[Ouest France]] |date=20 July 2021 }}</ref>

On 8 August 2024, Brittany Ferries announced its intention to become the majority stakeholder of [[Condor Ferries]], pending approval of regulators in [[Jersey]] and [[Guernsey]]. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2024-08-08/brittany-ferries-set-to-become-majority-owner-of-condor|title=Brittany Ferries set to become main Condor owner as it promises 'better service for passengers'|date=8 August 2024|publisher=ITV}}</ref>

== Fleet ==

=== Current ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! style="width:400px;" scope="col"| Ship 
! style="width:2px;;" scope="col"| Built 
! style="width:2px;;" scope="col"| Entered service 
! style="width:5px;" scope="col"| Gross tonnage
! style="width:5px;" scope="col"| Length
! style="width:5px;" scope="col"| Beam 
! style="width:60px;" scope="col"| Service speed 
! style="width:350px;" scope="col"| Vessel type
! style="width:30px;" scope="col"| Port of registry
! style="width:900px;" scope="col"| Current status
|-
| {{MV|Armorique|2008|2}} || 2009 || 2009  || {{GT|29,468}} || 168.30&nbsp;m || 26.8&nbsp;m || 25 knots || Cruise Ferry || [[Morlaix]] || In Service 
|-
| {{MV|Barfleur||2}} || 1992 || 1992 || {{GT|20,133}} || 158.7&nbsp;m || 23.3&nbsp;m || 19.5 knots ||  Cruise Ferry || [[Cherbourg]] || In Service
|-
| {{MV|Cotentin||2}} || 2007 || 2007 || {{GT|22,252}} || 167.00m || 26.80m || 23 knots || Freight Ferry || [[Cherbourg-en-Cotentin|Cherbourg]] || In Service
|-
| [[E-Flexer-class ferry|''Galicia'']] || 2020 ||2020|| {{GT|41,671}} || 214.50&nbsp;m || 27.8&nbsp;m || 22 knots || Cruise Ferry || [[Morlaix]] || In Service
|-
| ''MN Pelican''|| 1999 ||2016|| {{GT|12,076}} || 155.5&nbsp;m || 22.7&nbsp;m || 20 knots || Freight Ferry || [[Marseille]] || In Service
|-
| {{MV|Mont St Michel||2}} || 2002 || 2002 ||  {{GT|35,586}} || 173.95&nbsp;m || 28.5&nbsp;m || 22 knots ||  Cruise Ferry || [[Caen]] || In Service
|-
| {{MV|Normandie||2}} || 1992 || 1992 || {{GT|27,451}} || 161.40&nbsp;m || 26.0&nbsp;m || 20.5 knots ||  Cruise Ferry || [[Caen]] || In Service
|-
| {{MV|Pont-Aven||2}} || 2004 || 2004 || {{GT|40,859}} || 184.3&nbsp;m || 31.0&nbsp;m || 27 knots || Cruise Ferry || [[Morlaix]] || In Service
|-
| [[E-Flexer-class ferry|''Salamanca'']] || 2021 || 2022 || {{GT|41,863}} || 214.50&nbsp;m || 27.8&nbsp;m || 22 knots || Cruise Ferry || [[Morlaix]] || In Service
|-
| [[E-Flexer-class ferry|''Santoña'']] || 2022 || 2023 || {{GT|42,400}} || 214.50&nbsp;m || 27.8&nbsp;m || 22 knots || Cruise Ferry || [[Morlaix]] || In Service
|}

=== Future Fleet ===

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! style="width:140px;" scope="col"| Ship
! style="width:70px;" scope="col"| Built 
! style="width:70px;" scope="col"| Entered service 
! style="width:15px;" scope="col"| Gross tonnage 
! style="width:5px;;" scope="col"| Length 
! style="width:50px;" scope="col"| Beam
! style="width:50px;" scope="col"| Service speed
! style="width:70px;" scope="col"| Vessel type
! style="width:15px;" scope="col"| Port of registry
! style="width:230px;" class="unsortable" scope="col"| Current status
|-
|[[E-Flexer-class ferry|''Saint-Malo'']]|| On Order || On order || {{GT|38,000}} || 194.00&nbsp;m || 27.8&nbsp;m || 23 knots || Cruise Ferry || [[Morlaix]] || Due for delivered<ref>https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/marine-marchande/livraison-du-saint-malo-a-brittany-ferries</ref>
|-
|[[E-Flexer-class ferry|''Guillaume de Normandie'']]|| On Order || On order || {{GT|38,000}} || 194.00&nbsp;m || 27.8&nbsp;m || 23 knots || Cruise Ferry || [[Caen]] || Due for delivery in Spring 2025 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/bretagne/transmanche-brittany-ferries-annonce-la-commande-de-deux-navires-fonctionnant-au-gnl-e1488d8c-e93a-11eb-bcab-4da56ecb9b3f|title=Brittany Ferries announces order for two LNG-powered vessels|date=20 July 2021 }}</ref>
|}

=== Past Fleet ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! style="width:120px;" scope="col"| Ship
! style="width:80px;" scope="col"| Built
! style="width:90px;" scope="col"| In service
! style="width:80px;" scope="col" data-sort- type="number"| Tonnage
! style="width:420px;" class="unsortable" scope="col"| Current status
|-
|''Kerisnel''|| 1973 || 1973 || {{GT|1,983}} ||  Sank while under tow to Turkish breakers on 15 May 2014
|-
|[[MV Apollo|''Bénodet'']] || 1970 || 1983-1985 || {{GT|4,317}} || Scrapped in [[Turkey]], 2021
|-
|{{MV|Goelo||2}}|| 1967 || 1980-1982 || {{GT|5,149}} || Scrapped in [[Turkey]], 2001
|-
|''Penn-Ar-Bed'' || 1974 || 1974 || {{GT|6,399}} || Scrapped in [[India]], 2004
|-
|{{MV|Armorique|1973|2}} || 1972 || 1976-1993 || {{GT|8,181}} || Sunk in The [[Java Sea]], 2011
|-
|''Cornouailles'' || 1977 || 1977 || {{GT|6,918}} || Scrapped in [[Turkey]], 2013
|-
| {{MV|Reine Mathilde||2}} || 1970 || 1978-1992 ||  {{GT|7,747}} || Scrapped in [[India]], 2005
|-
| ''Breizh Izel'' || 1970 || 1980 || {{GT|6,576}} || Scrapped in [[Turkey]], 2014
|-
| ''Tregastel'' || 1971 || 1985 || {{GT|8,696}} || Sold to Baaboud Shipping as ''MS Noor''. Sold for scrap in 2022
|-
| {{MV|Coutances||2}} || 1970 || 1985-2008 || {{GT|6,507}} || Sank in Puerto la Cruz, 2018
|-
| ''Purbeck'' || 1978 || 1985 || {{GT|6,507}} || Sank in Puerto la Cruz, 2018
|-
| {{MV|Quiberon||2}} || 1975 || 1982-2002 || {{GT|11,813}} || Renamed ''D'Abundo'' and sent to Alang for scrapping
|-
| {{MV|Duc de Normandie||2}} || 1978 || 1986-2005 || {{GT|13,505}} || Scrapped in Aliaga in  2021 as the Damla
|-
| [[MF Dubrovnik|''Duchesse Anne'']] || 1979 || 1988-1996 ||  {{GT|9,795}} || Since 1996, with [[Jadrolinija]] as ''Dubrovnik''
|-
| [[MS King Seaways|''Val de Loire'']] || 1986 || 1993-2006 || {{GT|31,564}} || Since 2006, with [[DFDS Seaways]] as ''King Seaways''
|-
| [[MV Moby Corse|''Pont L'Abbe'']] || 1978 || 2006-2009 || {{GT|17,564}} || Since 2009, with [[Moby Lines]] as ''Moby Corse''
|-
|{{MV|Baie de Seine||2}} || 2001|| 2015-2020 || {{GT|22,382}} || Returned to [[DFDS Seaways]] in March 2020 as ''Sirena Seaways''
|-
|''Kerry''|| 2001 || 2019-2020 || {{GT|24,418}} || Returned to [[Stena Line]] in November 2020
|-
|{{MV|Etretat||2}}
|2008 || 2014-2021 || {{GT|26,904}} ||Returned to [[Stena Line]] in April 2021, as ''Stena Livia''
|-
|{{ship|HSC|Normandie Express||2}} 
| 2000 ||  2005-2021 || {{GT|6,581}} || Chartered to [[Condor Ferries]] in May 2021 as ''Condor Voyager''
|-
|{{MV| Cap Finistère||2}} 
| 2001 ||  2010-2022 || {{GT|32,728}} || Sold to [[Grandi Navi Veloci]] in January 2022 as ''GNV Spirit''
|-
| [[MS Norman Asturias|''Connemara'']] || 2007 || 2018-2022 || {{GT|27,414}} || Sold to [[StraitNZ]] in December 2022 as ''[[Connemara]]''
|-
| {{MV|Bretagne||2}} || 1989 || 1989-2024 || {{GT|24,534}} || Awaiting sale
|-
|}

== Routes ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:220px;" scope="col"| Route
! style="width:400px;" scope="col"| Vessel
|-
|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Portsmouth]] ⇄ {{flagicon|France}} [[Caen]]
|{{MV|Mont St Michel||2}} and {{MV|Normandie||2}}
|-
|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Portsmouth]] ⇄ {{flagicon|France}} [[Le Havre]]
|{{MV|Cotentin||2}}
|-
|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Portsmouth]] ⇄ {{flagicon|France}} [[Cherbourg]]
|[[E-Flexer-class ferry|''Galicia'']] and [[E-Flexer-class ferry|''Santoña'']]
|-
|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Portsmouth]] ⇄ {{flagicon|France}} [[Saint Malo]] 
|[[E-Flexer-class ferry|''Saint-Malo'']]
|-
|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Portsmouth]] ⇄ {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Santander, Spain|Santander]]
|[[E-Flexer-class ferry|''Santoña'']]
|-
|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Portsmouth]] ⇄ {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Bilbao]]
|[[E-Flexer-class ferry|''Galicia'']]
|-
|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Poole]] ⇄ {{flagicon|France}} [[Cherbourg]]
|{{MV|Barfleur||2}} 
|-
|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Poole]] ⇄ {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Bilbao]]
|''MN Pelican'' (Freight only)
|-
|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Plymouth]] ⇄ {{flagicon|France}} [[Roscoff]]
|{{MV|Armorique|2008|2}} and {{MV|Pont-Aven||2}}
|-
|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Plymouth]] ⇄ {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Santander, Spain|Santander]]
|{{MV|Pont-Aven||2}}
|-
|{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Cork (city)|Cork]] ⇄ {{flagicon|France}} [[Roscoff]]
|{{MV|Pont-Aven||2}} and {{MV|Armorique|2008|2}}
|-
|{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Rosslare Europort|Rosslare]] ⇄ {{flagicon|France}} [[Cherbourg]]
|[[E-Flexer-class ferry|''Galicia'']], {{MV|Cotentin||2}} and Commodore Clipper (Freight Only)
|-
|{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Rosslare Europort|Rosslare]] ⇄ {{flagicon|France}} [[Le Havre]]
|{{MV|Cotentin||2}} 
|-
|{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Rosslare Europort|Rosslare]] ⇄ {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Bilbao]]
|[[E-Flexer-class ferry|''Salamanca'']]
|-
|}

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book|last1=Cowsill|first1=Miles|title=Brittany Ferries: From the Land to the Sea / De la Terre a la Mer|date=1993|publisher=Ferry Publications.|location=Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire|isbn=1871947170|language=en, fr}}
*{{cite book|last1=Cowsill|first1=Miles|title=Brittany Ferries: 1973–2007|date=2007|publisher=Ferry Publications|location=Ramsey, Isle of Man|isbn=978-1871947892}}
*{{cite book|last1=Cowsill|first1=Miles|title=Brittany Ferries: 40 memorable years of service, hospitality and holidays|date=2013|publisher=Ferry Publications|location=Ramsey, Isle of Man|isbn=9781906608521}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Brittany Ferries}}
* [http://www.brittanyferries.com Official Brittany Ferries Website]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ferry companies of France]]
[[Category:Companies based in Brittany]]
[[Category:Ferry companies of England]]
[[Category:Ferry companies of the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Ferry companies of Spain]]
[[Category:Transport in Brittany]]
[[Category:Connections across the English Channel]]
[[Category:Transport companies established in 1972]]
[[Category:French companies established in 1972]]