Brittany Ferries shuts routes and sells ships amid rising costs

Brittany Ferries is selling ships and closing routes in the face of rising costs.

 

The French company cited a rising tax burden, Covid loan repayments, cost-of-living concerns among passengers and “unfair” competition on the eastern Channel for its actions.

 

A route between Poole and Cherbourg route served by 1992-built ship Barfleur (pictured) will be closed from November and the ship sold.

 

A daily service from Portsmouth to Cherbourg will operate in its place.

 

In addition, 2007 built Cotentin, which sails between Cherbourg and Rosslare, will also be sold, while the route will continue to operate with other vessels.

 

The company is also looking to shut the Portsmouth to Le Havre route from October “in the face of unfair competition on the eastern Channel, caused by subsidies to run the loss-making Dieppe-Newhaven route” which is served by DFDS Seaways.

 

The Portsmouth-Le Harve service has been operated “for as long as possible while legal challenges are still being considered by Brussels,” Brittany Ferries noted.

 

Ships serving Guernsey, Poole and Cherbourg will be allocated to a “more efficient” schedule from November 1. 

• Brittany Ferries Islander will serve a triangular route - Portsmouth to Guernsey, Guernsey to Cherbourg, Cherbourg to Portsmouth.
• Fast craft Voyager will continue to run between Poole and Guernsey, but with the option to travel on to St Malo.

A project has been initiated to allocate resources more efficiently, including consolidating services where necessary and operating with a cleaner and more efficient fleet.

 

A spokesperson told BBC Radio Solent the firm was faced with "a perfect storm of increased costs at the moment". However, they confirmed that "there are no staff redundancies in the UK".

 

Travellers with pre-booked tickets that will be affected by the changes will have the option of getting their money back or using an alternative service.

 

The company said: “The world has moved on from Covid for most people and businesses. For Brittany Ferries however, the long tail of the crisis continues. It is proud to have repaid half the loan allocated to save the company during the health crisis already, but half is still outstanding.

 

“Into this mix has been thrown the rising tax burden of ETS, the EU’s Emission Trading System. Brittany Ferries has invested in the cleanest, greenest fleet on the Channel, including five new vessels in five years, two of which were launched in 2025.

 

“Despite this, the company faces a bill of some €27 million in 2026, with no allowance for the industry-leading investment already made. That’s an EU financial burden even before the UK begins to introduce an equivalent scheme for ships operating in British waters.”

 

Chief executive Christophe Mathieu said: “Brittany Ferries has a track record in adapting its business to long- and short-term challenges. 

 

“We overcame Covid when borders were shut, we continue to wrestle with the consequences of Brexit and we are taking steps to make a holiday in France or Spain as reasonable as possible.

 

“But we have to be realistic. We need adapt and that means a plan to secure a future that will continue to bring opportunities for all those who live and work in the regions we serve. 

 

“We have informed our ports and will work with everyone affected on this plan for the future.”

 

Five new vessels joined the fleet between 2019 and 2025. Two LNG-electric-hybrids - Saint-Malo in February 2025 and Guillaume de Normandie in April 2025 - complete the largest fleet renewal scheme in the company’s history.