Superfast V purchased by Brittany Ferries
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Brittany Ferries has purchased the Superfast V, a 203.9m long cruise ferry, from Superfast Ferries (Attica Holdings) for £75 million in order to strengthen its operations to Spain. The new vessel is to be delivered to B.A.I. in during February 2010 and is likely to enter service on the 15th March 2010.
She will operate two return sailings between Portsmouth and Santander and in addition three return sailings to Cherbourg. Built in 2000 by the German shipyard Howaldtswerke in Kiel (Germany), Superfast currently operates out of Greece. She has a length of 203.9m and is capable of carrying up to 1600 passengers and 712 cars.
"We want to convince the British, who mainly use the road or air, to use the ferry to get to Spain, with quality services that are the hallmark of Brittanny Ferries," said Jean-Marc Roue, president of the Breton company. Brittany Ferries expects a target of 250,000 passengers to Spain in 2012, with all its vessels. With this acquisition Brittany Ferries strengthens its position, as it will offer five departures per week (instead of four at present): two with the Pont-Aven, two with the new ferry and a return freight with the Cotentin. "In a difficult economic environment, to cope with declining cargo and competition, we anticipate the resumption and reposition a fleet tailored to our lines," says Jean-Marc Roué. "The purchase of this new boat is an opportunity. "It's been two years since we considered this ship. The prices were too high for us to engage in new construction and we would not have had this boat before 2013. The economic environment is uncertain and the level of the pound sterling has deteriorated.
The proposed sailing schedule is as follows:
UK -> Spain:
Sunday: Plymouth to Santander, 16.00hrs, Pont Aven arrive Mon 12.00hrs
Tuesday: Portsmouth, late morning, Superfast V, arrive Weds 12.00hrs
Wednesday: Portsmouth Santander, 11.00hrs, Pont Aven, arrive Thurs 12.00hrs
Friday: Portsmouth to Santander, late morning, Superfast V, arrive Sat 12.00hrs
Saturday: Poole to Santander, 0800, Cotentin, arrive Sun 12.15hrs
Spain -> UK:
Monday: Santander to Portsmouth, 16.30hrs, Pont Aven, arrive Turs 17.00hrs
Wednesday: Santander to Portsmouth, afternoon, Superfast V, arrive Thurs afternoon
Thursday: Santander to Plymouth, 15.00hrs, Pont Aven, arrive Friday 09.30
Saturday: Santander - Portsmouth, afternoon, Superfast V, arrive Sun early afternoon
Sunday: Santander - Poole, 1515, Cotentin, arrive Mon 1700
Portsmouth -> Cherbourg onboard Superfast V:
Sunday afternoon, arrive evening
Monday morning, arrive afternoon
Thursday afternoon, arrive evening
Cherbourg -> Portsmouth onboard Superfast V:
Sunday overnight, mid morning arrival
Monday overnight, mid morning arrival
Thursday overnight, mid morning arrival
