Brittany Ferries LNG-electric hybrid vessel Saint-Malo has taken to the water. She is undertaking sea trails this week in the far east, ahead of her transit to Europe in November.
Portsmouth will be her home from early next year. She will link Pompey with the eponymous Corsair town from which she takes her name. And she will be the cleanest vessel on the Channel, operating like a hybrid car. That means running on cleaner liquefied natural gas (LNG) at sea and on electric power when manoeuvring, as well as when alongside in port, thanks to shore-side power.
Passengers will feel like they have arrived in Brittany the moment they step on board because interior design has been realised in partnership with the Brittany Region. Of course dedicated French crews will help with the Breton ambiance: more than three quarters of the company’s sailors hail from the north west peninsula.
Saint-Malo will be an exemplar of locally sourced produce served in her restaurants. She will also feature a huge choice of new cabin types including 28 pet-friendlies, an exclusive club lounge and an art collection hosting 150 works by Alexander Goudie.
Saint-Malo replaces Bretagne. Launched in 1989, this grande dame of the Brittany Ferries fleet, sails for the final time on 3 November.
Plug-in power will come to Portsmouth International Port via the Sea Change Project2. Preparatory work is already underway in the port, ready for the arrival of shore-power ready ships on two berths.
On-board Saint-Malo:
Hybrid technology is Saint-Malo’s party piece. But the onboard experience will be enhanced for customers on the popular Portsmouth to St Malo route.
Importantly, comfort and accessibility were at the forefront of design. St Malo will therefore feature a much more spacious garage, wider interior spaces and more comfortable beds than the ship she replaces. Video on-demand is available throughout the ship, including in cabins.
Her ten decks house 387 cabins, 28 of which will be pet-friendly. Woof woof. There will also be an ultra-luxury Admiral Cabin, a cabin for six occupants and cabins designed for those with allergy issues. The ship’s capacity is 1,290 passengers
Brittany Ferries contributed 231 million Euros to the Brittany region through tourism last year (and nearly a billion euros to France plc overall). The new ship will continue to present the best of Brittany, hosting two fabulous restaurants called Le Littoral and Le Jardin. These will feature locally sourced produce, some of which may have been grown on the farms of the company president and shareholders, the majority of whom are still Breton farmers. There will be a luxury Club lounge and fantastic, spacious bar bathed in light.
Saint-Malo’s voyage to Europe will commence this autumn (2024). Following ramp trials, staff training, tweaks and fine tuning, she will enter service in spring 2025. Her inaugural voyage promises to mark a significant milestone in the company’s storied history.