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Brittany adds new UK-Spain route

[ January 30, 2013   //   ]

Brittany Ferries’ freighter Cotentin will operate a midweek return trip from Poole to Bilbao in addition to the long established weekend ‘French by-pass’ service from Poole to Santander. She will also augment the Poole/Cherbourg service at times of peak freight demand, alongside the Barfleur which will be back in service from the same date.
The new Poole/Bilbao route departs mid-mornings on Tuesday calls in Bilbao mid- afternoon on Wednesday and arrives back in Poole early evening on the Thursday for deliveries of perishable and industrial cargoes for end of week markets. The M/V Cotentin boasts en suite cabins which are allocated on a one per truck basis and the purpose-designed transit times fully comply with the drivers’ 24 hour weekly rest period.
Jon Clarke, Group Freight Director, said: “This long awaited announcement puts an end to much speculation about the use of our purpose built freight-only vessel Cotentin when the Barfleur returns to the fold and operates her traditional route of Poole to Cherbourg.” Brittany is now offering seven departures a week from the UK to Spain, adding: “These developments coincide with the introduction of Ecotax in France from July and have been enthusiastically welcomed by our existing customers who appreciate the true value of our offer.”
Earlier in January, rival operator P&O Ferries re-entered the UK/Spain market with a transhipment operation via Zeebrugge in partnership with Transfennica. However, says Jon Clarke, Brittany Ferries Freight freight carryings have remained constant at 30,000 units for the past two years.C

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