Ferry firm says port needs to be modernised
TALKS have begun over the future of Plymouth’s ferry port which could result in it being transformed to become a major freight depot, visited by huge super ferries and connecting the city to new destinations in Spain, Portugal and even Africa.
Brittany Ferries said investment into dockside facilities could have huge benefits for the city in terms of jobs, journeys and prestige.
Bosses from the ferry company have met with counterparts at Plymouth City Council and Associated British Ports (ABP), which controls Millbay docks, to talk about how they can collaborate to upgrade and modernise facilities and market the port as a key freight route, especially now the city has freeport status.
It comes as Brittany Ferries looks at its post-Covid economic recovery and the need to switch to more environmentally friendly vessels. This also gives the French-owned company the opportunity to reassess its operation in Plymouth, with a desire for it to become a lucrative freight hub, while not sacrificing its passenger trade, and bring in new gasfuelled vessels which could open up new routes.
Christophe Mathieu, chief executive of Brittany Ferries , travelled to Plymouth for meetings with council and ABP chiefs and said the summit had been productive. He now wants the local authority to consider how it can attract funding from the UK Government to upgrade the docks, and market the city to hauliers as a prime route to the Continent.
Mr Mathieu said: “I like to work on long-term plans – we are trying to think four, five or six years ahead. We need to prepare for a greener generation of vessels, onshore power and new passenger facilities.”
He said partners such as the city council and ABP have an important role to play. He added: “They need to fight for funds in London, for onshore power and to modernise the port – to help Plymouth and help us.”
Mr Mathieu said Plymouth is not seen as a strong freight port, but it has potential to be one, and increasing the amount of lorry loads carried to and from Plymouth is essential “for us to justify bigger ships in Plymouth”.
There is already the question of what type of ship replaces current vessels Pont-Aven and Armorique when they come to the end of their lives in about 15 years’ time, or even sooner if regulators insist on greener vessels. If larger vessels are brought to Plymouth, it would mean Brittany
Ferries could also look at new routes, driven by the demands of freight, but open for passengers too.
Mr Mathieu said: “We are looking at Spain, potentially, or Portugal, or even North Africa.”
Brittany Ferries saw freight as a lifeline when passenger numbers plummeted during the pandemic and its travel restrictions, but because so few lorries use the Plymouth to Roscoff route it had to be closed entirely during the pandemic.
With all routes now reopened, Brittany Ferries has already introduced its two new ‘super ferries’ Galicia and Salamanca to routes out of Portsmouth.
These Chinese-built vessels are larger and greener, running on liquified natural gas (LNG). Mr Mathieu said investment into the Millbay port is also needed for the Galicia and Salamanca, or future ‘super ferries’, to operate from it, but he added: “There is no point investing in the port to base these ships here if we don’t have the traffic for these ships.”
“I don’t understand why lorries won’t drive to Plymouth. It’s not Penzance, we have the A38, not a motorway but still a great access, but there is a perception that Plymouth is at the end of nowhere. In Plymouth, we need to find a solution, collectively, and increase the carrying of freight out of the port, or we will struggle to replace the fleet.”