Cruise and Ferry Review - Summer/Spring 2020

2 8 MARKETWATCH Honfleur Brittany Ferries’ newbuild will set new standards when she becomes the first LNG ferry to operate on the English Channel C urrently under construction at the FSG shipyard in Flensburg, Germany, Brittany Ferries’ Honfleur is set to make her debut in March 2020 on the Portsmouth to Caen route, offering what the operator is calling ‘the future of sustainable ferry transport.’ Operating three sailings a day on what is the operator’s busiest route, Honfleur will be the first ferry on the English Channel to be powered by LNG. She will also be the first passenger ship in the world to be equipped with onboard cranes, allowing LNG containers to be driven onto the ship and lifted into position to feed a master tank. “Honfleur will be the largest and most modern LNG ferry in Europe,” said Jean-Marc Roué, president of Brittany Ferries, in a press release. “The significant investment we are making reflects our ongoing commitment for developing the regions in which we operate, to linking people and to reducing the environmental impact of our ships.” The ship will carry up to 1,680 passengers and include 261 cabins, all of which will be pet friendly and equipped with a TV. Wi-fi will be available throughout all areas of the vessel, and passengers will be able to enjoy two cinemas, several restaurants and boutique shopping. The ferry will also feature a digital travel lounge, where passengers can use interactive screens to learn more about the destinations Brittany Ferries serves. Self-service tablets will also be available in the lounge, enabling guests to consult a tourist portal linked to a number of tourist offices and even make reservations. “It’s not just about providing what passengers need,” said Catherine Querné, Britanny Ferries’ strategy director, in a press release. “It’s important to be good hosts, and to treat our guests as individual travellers, not tourists. We hope we can provide the small discoveries that make travel by sea so enriching.” CFR Ship spotlight