With effect from 23rd March Brittany Ferries will significantly increase both frequency and freight capacity on their direct services to Northern Spain.
The introduction of the ‘Cap Finistere’, which will operate between Portsmouth and Santander, will give an additional two roundtrips per week.
This will give a total of five crossings per week in each direction with the following schedule; arrivals are the following day at local time:
From the UK
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Tuesday – Depart Portsmouth 11.15 arriving 12.15
Wednesday – Depart Portsmouth 11.00 arriving 12.00
Friday – Depart Portsmouth 11.15 arriving 12.15
Saturday – Depart Poole 08.00 arriving 12.15
Sunday – Depart Plymouth 16.30 arriving 13.30
From Santander
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Monday – Depart 16.30 arriving Portsmouth 17.00
Wednesday – Depart 15.15 arriving Portsmouth at 14.15
Thursday – Depart 15.00 arriving Plymouth at 09.30
Saturday – Depart 15.15 arriving Portsmouth at 14.15
Sunday – depart 15.15 arriving Poole at 17.00
The year round freight capacity of 70+ units on the “Cap Finistere”, 120+ on the “Cotentin” and 30 to 40 on the “Pont Aven” together with this level of frequency and a transit time of 24 to 26 hours, is something that the industry has needed for years.
In the past service levels service into Spain have not always supported the haulier.
Acciona started a service that lasted about 6 months. During that time, the rates went from a special introductory offer for a month or two, and then rates promptly doubled with 24 hours notice. Other services have attempted to operate between the UK and Portugal, all of which have been huge loss making failures.
At the moment P&O operate Portsmouth/Bilbao but this service will cease in September when they have opted not to renew the charter. One of the main reasons this service has not succeeded when it should have done is due to a complete lack of consistency with the scheduling. Success is difficult when a service has varying departure days, a 32 hours crossing from Portsmouth and extreme fluctuations variances in freight capacities.
It is little wonder that hauliers and operators become frustrated and revert to the easy option of a relatively cheap ferry between Dover and Calais and then the long slog through France with all its associated costs.
The smart haulier?
Any operator running their own fleet to and from Iberia has got to see long terms cost benefits in using longer ferry crossings. Whether this is through saving wear and tear on the vehicle, saving fuel costs and tolls, avoiding driving bans over weekends and bank holidays or being able to schedule a 24 hour break for your driver. If not for all, it must make sense for some of your traffic ?
Tags: Brittany Ferries, Ferries, Ferries to Spain, Freight Ferries
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