P&O PORTSMOUTH is introducing extra fast-ferry capacity on its Portsmouth-Cherbourg route in response to high customer demand last summer.
It plans to replace the 800-passenger SuperStar Express with a new 920-passenger fast ferry, which it has named Portsmouth Express.
The chartered vessel will serve the route from mid-April until the end of September.
Journey time will be 2hrs 40mins, which is 5mins less than the SuperStar Express.
SuperStar Express is being transferred to the company’s Larne-Cairnryan route from mid-April to replace the fast ferry Jetliner, which has a capacity of 600 passengers. The chartered vessel will be returned to its owners. The journey time of 1hr on the route will remain unchanged.
P&O Portsmouth managing director Jim Davenport said: “A record number of holiday makers took the fast route to western France in 1999, with SuperStar Express carrying 325,000 and 93,000 cars.
“It is clear that ferry customers want the choice of fastcraft and conventional ships and P&O Portsmouth can offer both.”
The company reported passenger numbers of 2,016,000 and vehicle volumes of 525,000 on conventional routes last year.