Brittany Ferries has taken delivery of another Stena RoRo LNG powered E-Flexer, following the ‘Saint-Malo’ earlier this year.
The ‘Guillaume de Normandie’ is now operating between Portsmouth (UK) and Caen (France).
She flies the French flag and is operated by French seafarers and marks the end of the largest investment in fleet renewal in Brittany Ferries’ history with five new ships joining the fleet between 2020 and 2025.
She is the second ropax to be powered by a hybrid propulsion system, combining LNG with electrical power.
Thanks to her battery system, she can operate on electricity alone when entering Portsmouth Harbour and while manoeuvring at the berth with zero emissions.
The final piece of Portsmouth’s sustainable project will follow – shore power connections.
‘Guillaume de Normandie’s’ arrival preceded the completion of electrical installation work at Portsmouth International Port by a couple of months and in Ouistreham (Caen) by a couple of years.
The project, called Sea Change, involves many partners and is supported by the UK government’s ZEVI funding.
Once the connections are in place, on board systems will be powered by direct connection to the shore. Ships’ batteries will also be able to be re-charged ahead of departure.
‘Guillaume de Normandie’ launches a number of new concepts and services for passengers, including Couchette Plus lounges. These present a new way of travelling, particularly for schools groups, at a more accessible price.
There will also be a new dining concept, called the Café du Port, serving freshly baked French pastries each morning.
Her spacious garage makes entry and exit from cars and lorries easier even for those with mobility problems. She is fitted with 2,219 m of truck lanes and 176 m for cars.
She has 10 decks with open spaces and 220 cabins (including luxurious commodores and allergy-friendly cabins) to carry a maximum of 1,300 pax. In addition, 21 of her cabins will be pet-friendly.
As a result of the recent deliveries, two of the old stalwarts, ‘Bretagne’ and ‘Normandie’, have been sold.
‘Bretagne’ has gone to Baleària and has been renamed ’Rosalind Franklin’ . She was the company’s first purpose-built ship when delivered in 1989.
The 1992-built ‘Normandie’ was sold to La Méridionale and operates between Marseille, France and Tanger Med, Morocco as the ‘Massalia’.
