Portsmouth International Port’s relationship with major European ferry operator, Brittany Ferries, has been strengthened following the announcement of a 20-year contract with the port and the city.
This commitment means Brittany Ferries will be operating from the port until 2044, with the partnership between the two organisations expected to generate an estimated £200m in revenue over 20 years for the council-owned port.
Currently the port welcomes more than 1.5 million Brittany Ferries passengers annually and 200,000 lorries from Spain and France making it one of the UK’s most popular ferry routes for travelling to France and Spain.
The partnership between Brittany Ferries and Portsmouth International Port is highlighted by a shared support for seafarers’ pay and conditions, following Brittany Ferries signing a charter in Paris July last year to protect the rights of seafarers. This will complement laws mandating minimum wages for sailors on ferries operating cross-Channel routes. Both organisations are also driven by ambitious environmental goals to lower emissions and reduce carbon.
The port’s sustainability priorities will be evident over the coming months as works take place to accommodate Brittany Ferries’ two new hybrid ships, which are expected to replace some of the current fleet serving routes from the city to France.
The new ships Saint-Malo and Guillaume de Normandie will be shore power ready, equipped with the largest batteries of any ferry in the world, running on electric power when manoeuvring and alongside in port. This will be made possible by the shoreside power Sea Change project, supported by Brittany Ferries and other city partners, which has the potential to revolutionise the UK’s maritime sector through providing an innovative energy facility for multiple ships across multiple berths.
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council said:
“Our relationship with Brittany Ferries is hugely significant for the city, especially since they have been with the port when it began operating in 1976. Nearly 50 years on we’re proud of this long-standing partnership with one of France’s premier travel brands.
This also shows the importance of continued investment to make sure the port is in the best possible position to remain operating as the UK’s most successful council-owned port. Long-term reassurance from Brittany Ferries means the city’s residents benefit from a thriving commercial port contributing over £9m to the council’s budget this year, which has been essential in helping provide services for the city’s most vulnerable residents.
It is testament to our relationship with Brittany Ferries that we are both committed to providing environmentally secure power for ships through the Sea Change project. This innovative scheme involves the University of Portsmouth and forward-thinking local SMEs, making Portsmouth a pioneer in sustainability and one of the UK’s leading marine and maritime cities.”
Together Brittany Ferries and the port are delivering major projects to improve facilities, which also includes removal of the existing outdated passenger boarding bridge to create a better experience for customers and make way for the shore power facility.
Christophe Mathieu, CEO for Brittany Ferries, said:
“Our partnership with Portsmouth International Port is a relationship that we value incredibly highly.
There are so many strings to Portsmouth’s bow, most notably a commitment to a more sustainable future, with shore-side power installing helping fully realise the potential of our new hybrid ships next year. The port is our UK hub, with connections to four ports in France and two in Spain and its proximity to London has been key to driving traffic. Finally, there is the historical significance of connecting Portsmouth with D-Day beaches in Normandy and, of course, the veterans and carers we carry each year. We are proud to be part of Pompey today and we will continue to be tomorrow.”
A recent calculation from the Department for Business and Trade showed that when the two new hybrid Brittany Ferries are in operation, Brittany Ferries’ investment is forecasted to bring in £52m GVA for the UK economy.
Brittany Ferries first sailed into Portsmouth International Port in 1976 as one of its earliest customers. Owned and operated to this day by Portsmouth City Council, the Port has worked closely with Brittany Ferries for the last 40 years. It has been the one and only ferry operator to use the Port on a constant basis during the last four decades.