Brittany Ferries says freight has kept the business buoyant during an uncertain 2020

IT MAY have been a season to forget for passenger traffic, but one ferry firm says that freight has kept on rolling this year.
Freight on Britanny Ferries Freight on Britanny Ferries
Freight on Britanny Ferries

Brittany Ferries, which serves France, Spain, Ireland and the UK, said it has had a steady 2020 and is looking forward to 2021, with positive signs from the marketplace.

Several of its major customers have indicated their intention to increase business next year, which could amount to an additional 15 per cent of freight traffic on routes connecting the UK with Spain and 15 per cent on its Ireland to Spain link. In total the company carries around 210,000 units across its 12-route network each year.

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‘The Brittany Ferries freight team has worked tirelessly throughout the Covid-19 crisis to guarantee the supply of essential products like food and medicine,’ said Simon Wagstaff, group freight director for the company.

‘It’s an important part of our portfolio because freight comprises around a quarter of the company’s annual turnover and our customers rely on us to maintain essential cross-border links. Based on the reaction of the marketplace - and the support of our loyal freight customers – we are looking forward to a positive 2021.’

Brittany Ferries opened a sea route connecting Ireland with Spain for the first time in 2018. Originally operating from Cork to Santander, the operation moved to Rosslare-Bilbao earlier this year in response to demand from freight customers. Demand is expected to continue to grow as more companies in Ireland and the Iberian peninsula look for a Brexit by-pass to escape the UK land-bridge.

Cork meanwhile continues to serve passenger traffic, with the company’s flagship cruise ferry Pont-Aven returning in 2021 for the holiday season. The service has now connected with company headquarters in Roscoff, Brittany for more than 40 years.

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Freight on Britanny Ferries
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More positive news for freight concerns routes connecting the UK with Spain. The company’s newest vessel, Galicia will enter service in December with a vast garage hosting more than 3km of lanes, accommodating up to 155 trailers.

In addition to serving UK to Spain, Galicia will make one weekly rotation between Portsmouth and Cherbourg.

This cross-channel service will be one of many to serve the freight market next year, the most popular being Caen-Portsmouth - a route which carries nearly 50 per cent of all the company’s freight traffic.

Brittany Ferries was also one of four ferry companies handed government contracts worth a total of £77.6m to provide post-Brexit freight capacity.

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The Department for Transport has signed agreements with Brittany Ferries, DFDS, P&O Ferries and Stena Line.

This will ensure that vital medical supplies and other critical goods ‘continue to be smoothly delivered into the UK whatever the outcome of negotiations with the EU’, the DfT said.

The contracts will be in place for up to six months after the Brexit transition period ends on December 31.

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