Brittany Ferries has closed its Rosslare-Le Havre route as the operator of the Ireland-France link will not reopen the service in 2024, writes Jehan Ashmore

The weekend only operated Wexford-Normandy link was scheduled to close last weekend, however Storm Ciarán led to cancelled crossings and according to Brittany Ferries the previous weekend sailings were also affected by adverse weather.

It was two years ago when the Rosslare-Le Havre route opened due to significant increase in demand for direct freight links connecting Ireland with France. In March this year the 120 trailer unit freight-ferry, Cotentin (see photo) also took on passengers, their cars and foot passengers on the 20 hour 15 minutes service.

The 22,308 gross tonnage Cotentin, however is to remain with Irish operations by switching to the Rosslare-Cherbourg route this Saturday, 11 November, following a debut crossing to take place overnight from France.

The passenger and freight route was operated by the E-Flexer series cruise-ferry Salamanca, with the ropax Cotentin soon to take over. In addition to be joined by second ship, Santoña which starts service from Rosslare next Monday, 13 November, following a departure France the previous day. Santoña is Brittany Ferries newest LNG powered cruise-ferry.  

Brittany Ferries two-ship service will be in direct competition with rivals Stena Line which introduced in June a second ship, the cruise ferry Stena Vision which has helped to achieve a record rise in passenger and car numbers up over 90% on last year. The massive boost in trade along with Stena Horizon, the ropax which launched the link for Stena following its acquisition of Celtic Link Ferries in 2014.

The shorter Rosslare-Cherbourg route of around 17 hours, operated by Brittany Ferries and Stena with two ships each, Afloat highlights will offer customers the most ever range of sailings on the route and of all between Ireland and France, including those connecting Dublin and Cork.

Both Cotentin and the former Rosslare-Cherbourg route serving Salamanca, will be operating out of the Cotentin peninsula in Normandy, as Brittany Ferries also run a Cherbourg-Portsmouth route.

Cherbourg at the northern tip of the peninsula is where Brittany Ferries also have a route to Poole and so the Normandy port is strategically located also to the UK. In addition, Brittany Ferries is to launch next year a new ‘rail-freight motorway’ connecting the port in Normandy and Bayonne in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region in south-western France, close to border with Spain.

The new almost 1,000km rail link will form a natural extension of Brittany Ferries’ existing sea routes linking Cherbourg to Ireland and the UK, cutting the number of lorries transiting France by road by around 25,000 per year. Brittany Ferries will operate and sell the new service, effectively becoming a rail operator.

Brittany Ferries has today confirmed that it will re-open its Rosslare-Le Havre service and for 'passengers' on the Ireland-France link.

As Afloat reported the route has been run in freight-only mode, since the Covid crisis struck. As of today, 20th December, passenger tickets have gone on sale, for journeys taking place from early March 2023. 

Passengers will travel on Brittany Ferries ropax Cotentin which has space for up to 114 passengers in well-appointed cabins. Cotentin hosts a self-service restaurant, bar and small shop. Up to 30 dogs can be accommodated on the route (travelling in vehicle).

“This is great news for travellers in Ireland and for Rosslare,” said Hugh Bruton, General Manager of Brittany Ferries in Ireland. “Once again, Brittany Ferries will connect travellers with three destinations in France and one in Spain - offering a variety of options and choice.”

“Le Havre is a fantastic destination in itself. It’s a Unesco World Heritage Site renowned for the towering St Joseph’s Church, famous gardens and a fantastic beach, which is one of its best kept secrets. But Le Havre is also gateway to the Seine Maritime region and the many treasures this area holds, such as the famous arch of Etretat.”

As well as Rosslare Europort– Le Havre, the ferry will carry passengers on the English Channel route of Le-Havre-Portsmouth. The ship's schedule includes one round-trip to each destination:

Friday

Le Havre-Rosslare : departure 19h00 – Arrival 14h30

Saturday

Rosslare-Le Havre : departure 17h45 – Arrival15h00

Sunday and Thursday

Le Havre – Portsmouth : departure 17h30 – Arrival 22h00

Portsmouth - Le Havre : departure 23h30 - Arriva 08h30

With an increased capacity of nearly 1,000 passengers accommodated in 428 cabin berths, the vessel will offer a wider choice of bars, restaurents and childrens' play area compared to the current route ro-pax Norman Voyager, which like her successor was built by Italian shipbuilders  Visentini. The 25-knot replacement ship will have 2,285 lane metre space for 800 cars or 150 freight vehicles.

Celtic Horizon becomes the first vessel to incorporate the companies name since foundation in 2005 when the freight-ferry Diplomat started operations. In recent years the company has secured the contract to import new trade vehicles from French manufacturers.

Before the newcomer makes her Autumnal debut, the 2006 built vessel is currently operating as Cartour Beta while on charter to Caronte and Tourist's (C&T) Salerno-Messina service in Sicily. To read more click here.

As for the Norman Voyager, she first entered as a newbuild in 2008 for LD Lines weekend operated Rosslare-Le Havre route, subsequently transferred to Cherbourg. LD Lines first foray into the Irish market was short-lived as the ro-pax was sub-chartered to Celtic Link Ferries the following year, though the French company are to transfer the vessel to their Marseilles-Tunis route in November.