PONT-AVEN going to Gdansk for scrubber installation

BRITTANY FERRIES flagship "PONT-AVEN", is heading to Gdansk for scrubber installation and maintenance work, she is the only ship going to Poland for this major installation due to the size of the ship, too large for the ASTANDER shipyard at Santander in Spain. ARMORIQUE the sixth and last ship to have new scrubbers is also on her way to Santander for the same refit and installation, BF is now nearing completion of the vast investement programme to become one of the greenest fleets in operation. "PONT-AVEN" will resume service next March. Photos of the ship at sea, taken last October and design impression of the new funnel, courtesy of BF

ARMORIQUE arriving Saint-Malo

ARMORIQUE docking at Saint-Malo back in February of this year, she was replacing the BRETAGNE at the time in Le Havre enjoying a short break from service. Photos 7.2.2015

ARMORIQUE entering Portsmouth

The magnificent ARMORIQUE arriving Portsmouth last February from Saint-Malo, it was my first crossing on the ship this year.

ARMORIQUE at Saint-Malo

ARMORIQUE docking at Saint-Malo, photos February 2015, the ship was replacing the BRETAGNE which was at Gdansk for her annual refit.

BRITTANY FERRIES ships at Portsmouth

Portsmouth International Port is by nature a busy Port, a lot to do with BRITTANY FERRIES, all their ships apart from the BARFLEUR use Portsmouth, today was no exception, as I was arriving from Saint-Malo on board the ARMORIQUE, the MONT ST MICHEL was about ready and secure for sea for her morning sailing to Ouistreham and the PONT-AVEN was getting ready for her sailing to Santander later in the morning, always a delight for my hungry lenses. Photos 8.2.2015

ARMORIQUE at Saint-Malo

Just realized that this is the first post of 2015, got a lot to catch up though, regular updates will be coming here on regular basis from now on. ARMORIQUE was built in 2009 in Finland, she is just over 22.540 G.T. and is the second ship to bear the same name, operated by BRITTANY FERRIES. I have just sailed twice in the space of two weeks on the ship, she is so pleasant to sail on, love the use of colour and the maritime motives on board all evocative of Brittany, she is not however a cruise ferry, there is no "A La Carte Restaurant", passengers don't dine, they eat and there is no designated entertainment lounge, she was designed for shorter crossings, with the main service being the Roscoff to Plymouth route. The ship is now covering for BRETAGNE on the Saint-Malo to Portsmouth during the winter months, BRETAGNE is freshly refit at Le Havre. Photos 7.2.2015

ARMORIQUE ar sea

ARMORIQUE was introduced in 2009, today was only my second trip on the ship, I embarked her at Portsmouth for a voyage to Caen, she is replacing the NORMANDIE currently in dry dock. BRETAGNE is now mostly used on the Plymouth to Roscoff route, with flagship PONT-AVEN covering the BRETAGNE on the Portsmouth to Saint-Malo service, NORMANDIE will resume service on the 2.1.2015. ARMORIQUE is a very modern cruise ferry with contemporary passenger facilities, we encountered force 7/8 seas today during the crossing but she left and arrive on time, very stable ship, the next few days I will post photos of her interiors, for today, some images registered with the ship at sea. 2.11.2014

interiors of "ARMORIQUE"

Photos taken 25.2.2013, the bright and modern interiors of "ARMORIQUE" built 2009, she has been in service with BF since February 2009 normally used on the Roscoff/Plymouth route, during winter months for the past two years she replaced BRETAGNE on the Saint-Malo/Portsmouth route.

"ARMORIQUE" ready for sea at Saint-Malo

"ARMORIQUE" is seen here ready for sea yesterday at Saint-Malo, 25.2.2013