Brittany Ferries announces new luxury cruise-ferry service from Portsmouth to Spain with a crossing time of only 24 hours

Brittany Ferries has today confirmed its plans to start a new luxury cruise-ferry service from Portsmouth to Santander in northern Spain with effect from next April using its €165 million flagship, Pont Aven. With a departure every Monday and a crossing time of just 24 hours, it will be some 8 hours faster than other ferry services from Portsmouth to northern Spain.

This new route expands the Brittany Ferries network at a time when both passenger and freight traffic to Spain is growing. The existing twice-weekly Plymouth-Santander service will continue, as will the weekly freight-only operation between Poole and Santander, thus helping to build a Motorway of the Seas which is in keeping with the Marco Polo EU transport policy of diverting freight from the roads and on to the sea.

David Longden, Managing Director, commented: "Portsmouth is easily accessible via an excellent road network for a huge number of people located in Greater London and the Home Counties. The appeals of Northern Spain are becoming more widely appreciated and, by providing a faster crossing than anyone else is able to, thereby allowing passengers to spend just one night at sea, we believe we can grow the market."

Phil Gadd, Portsmouth Ferry Port Manager is looking forward to the arrival of the new service: "We are pleased about the new Brittany Ferries route from Portsmouth to Santander. The French routes Brittany Ferries operate from our port are very popular and we are sure the Santander crossing will be just as successful. This new destination offers more choice to our loyal passengers who use Portsmouth regularly, and it will also attract new customers who are keen to get to Northern Spain by ferry."

Pont-Aven is just 4 years old and has more in common with a cruise ship than a ferry. Its stunning features including a superb pool and leisure area, a wrap around promenade for pleasant deck strolls, a dramatic five deck high atrium with panoramic views from the lifts, and no fewer than four different categories of cabin, all with en-suite facilities. There are 2 cinemas, restaurants, bars and sundecks. Details of 2009 timetables and fares will be available from the beginning of August at www.brittany-ferries.co.uk

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Notes to Editors

1. Brittany Ferries is the leading ferry operator on the western channel with:
   • 5 routes from the UK to France:
     • Portsmouth to Caen, Cherbourg and St Malo
     • Poole to Cherbourg
     • Plymouth to Roscoff
   • 3 routes from UK to Spain:
     • Portsmouth to Santander (as from April 2009)
     • Poole to Santander (freight only)
     • Plymouth to Santander
   • 1 route from Ireland to France:
     • Cork to Roscoff
2. Whilst the precise schedule has not yet been finalised, there will be a departure every Monday afternoon from the UK, returning from Spain Tuesday afternoon and arriving back in Portsmouth early Wednesday evening.
3. The EU Marco Polo programme's objective is to reduce road congestion and to improve the environmental performance of the freight transport system within the Community and to enhance intermodality, thereby contributing to an efficient and sustainable transport system.

Released 24 June 2008