Brittany Ferries fleet movements

[Bikermate]

The aforementioned increase in deposit and resulting reduction in speculative double bookings is bound to have made an impact for a start - 4% isn't a big enough number that it couldn't conceivably not be a result of such a policy.  There's also the fact that BF's numbers are already in decline on some routes with the Caen route down by 7.4% in 2017 vs 2016 for example (by BF's own admission).  Portsmouth to Cherbourg was down 9% over summer 2018 according to BF's latest published figures yet other routes were slightly up.  I don't see DFDS or P&O complaining to the press about how brexit is killing their business, nor Eurotunnel for that matter!!!  While there may be a bit of a brexit effect I personally feel it's more likely people are using different travel options (airlines, Dover Strait, Holiday elsewhere than France) and not double booking anymore due to the financial penalty
[/quote]
With the introduction of the deposit etc maybe the drop in passengers is only reflecting the true bookings and not an inflated figure due to speculative  bookings previously experienced. Judgement is probably best left until this time next year.
With Brexit there is also the possibility, as Stenaline have stated, of relocating ships to other more direct routes from Ireland to France and Spain.

[Steven]

The aforementioned increase in deposit and resulting reduction in speculative double bookings is bound to have made an impact for a start - 4% isn't a big enough number that it couldn't conceivably not be a result of such a policy.  There's also the fact that BF's numbers are already in decline on some routes with the Caen route down by 7.4% in 2017 vs 2016 for example (by BF's own admission).  Portsmouth to Cherbourg was down 9% over summer 2018 according to BF's latest published figures yet other routes were slightly up.  I don't see DFDS or P&O complaining to the press about how brexit is killing their business, nor Eurotunnel for that matter!!!  While there may be a bit of a brexit effect I personally feel it's more likely people are using different travel options (airlines, Dover Strait, Holiday elsewhere than France) and not double booking anymore due to the financial penalty

With the introduction of the deposit etc maybe the drop in passengers is only reflecting the true bookings and not an inflated figure due to speculative  bookings previously experienced. Judgement is probably best left until this time next year.
With Brexit there is also the possibility, as Stenaline have stated, of relocating ships to other more direct routes from Ireland to France and Spain.
[/quote]

Important to note Stena have said it's a possibility but that it's not something they intend to do at present.

P&O are reporting they've had a really strong summer and a good 2018 so far with record breaking passenger numbers on the Calais route in August, while Brittany Ferries appear to be down.  Of course that's this year not next, but it seems Brittany Ferries are losing business to the competition which could also help explain why forward bookings are down.  Or people may genuinely be being more cautious - it's impossible to say but there's definitely more than just Brexit at play.

[Cladyman]

https://www.eveningecho.ie/corknews/New-winter-ferry-between-Cork-and-Spain-will-allow-hauliers-bypass-UK-over-Brexit-fears-46cfa450-95c9-45a0-96f2-5871beecde96-ds

Some info on updated winter timetable.  Definitely after freight giving both sailings ex Ireland are now 2 nights on the boat!

Hopefully they are getting necessary traction.

This won't work in summer to get the roscoe sailing in there

[ferryfan]

New build Honfleur is due to be launched on Friday leaving space a bit tight on the quayside at FSG.

[giftgrub]

A look inside the Honfleur top deck midsection in this article.

https://www.portalmorski.pl/stocznie-statki/41242-nadbudowka-z-gdanskich-firm-trafi-na-nowy-prom-brittany-ferries

[Cladyman]

Is there any slack in Brittany ferries fleet for another Irish rotation given that Irish ferries pulling out of Rosslare.

Would probably be best to keep it simple and put one more rod off Cork than launch a service into Cherbourg or definitely rosslare (given costs of a new port).

With Brexit impact in UK and good numbers supposedly for Santander they may see a great window of opportunity. 

Definitely help fill the Monday/Tuesday Connemara which had availability this year given the late release of dates.

[giftgrub]

Tomorrow's sailing of the Connemara has been cancelled,

Cork to Santander - Santander to Cork
Due to technical problems the Connemara sailing on Wednesday 2nd January at 11:00 has been cancelled.
For assistance with your travel arrangements please call 00 353 21 4277801 on Wednesday morning from 09:00. We apologise for the inconvenience this cancellation will cause.

Strangely the Connemara left Ringaskiddy for Santander this evening,  not from the ferry birth but was on the container ship berth. So has sailed empty to Spain.

[giftgrub]

Connemara still in Santander with sailing cancelled for technical reasons.

(Not technical enough to prevent it sailing empty to Santander though)

[Steven]

Is there any slack in Brittany ferries fleet for another Irish rotation given that Irish ferries pulling out of Rosslare.

Would probably be best to keep it simple and put one more rod off Cork than launch a service into Cherbourg or definitely rosslare (given costs of a new port).

With Brexit impact in UK and good numbers supposedly for Santander they may see a great window of opportunity. 

Definitely help fill the Monday/Tuesday Connemara which had availability this year given the late release of dates.

Any slack is surely going to go towards fulfilling the UK government contract in the event of a no deal, which is the only scenario which an extra sailing would probably be worth there while anyway.  Irish Ferries expect most of their business to follow them to Dublin after all.

[ferryfan]

Statement from Brittany Ferries regarding FSG says Honfleur will not be delivered on time and that all passengers bookings are being transferred to Normandie copy of statement here.
https://seanews.co.uk/news/brittany-ferries-statement-on-fsg-honfleur-en-fr/

[giftgrub]

BF are taking a third E-Flexer from Stena RoRo.

https://brittanyferriesnewsroom.com/brittany-ferries-confirms-fourth-new-cruise-ferry-post-brexit/?fbclid=IwAR2S10L1ICqEaidsyNkKC4sRdyaFCwF7i3eT7FDF_AJ9lzXpJhGGcS4SgXk

[giftgrub]

https://bfenthusiasts.com/bfe/topic/12246-bf-confirms-fourth-new-ferry-third-e-flexer/

[Cladyman]

Interesting debate as regards how this will impact Irish routes. 

IF has opened a door they have ships and time to recover will be interesting to see if they do!

[giftgrub]

Not sure this new addition is for Ireland, LNG fueled so could mean first one which is gas ready could be used from Ireland.


More info posted here

https://www.niferry.co.uk/brittany-ferries-announce-order-for-an-additional-stena-e-flexer-ferry/?fbclid=IwAR30m3VGRA9o8cQMnH4BiO8vNsEqGRXRziVEPDh4RlLzEXHTCyrSfHLPqyM

[giftgrub]

Onboard report from Connemara Cork to Roscoff

https://bfenthusiasts.com/bfe/topic/12280-cork-to-roscoff-onboard-connemara/