MV Bretagne
 MV Bretagne |
|
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | MV Bretagne |
| Owner: | SABEMEN |
| Operator: | Brittany Ferries |
| Port of registry: | Morlaix,  France |
| Route: | Portsmouth-Saint-Malo |
| Builder: | Chantiers de l'Atlantique |
| Cost: | £55 million |
| Launched: | 4 February 1989 |
| Completed: | 1989 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 8707329 |
| Status: | in service |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Tonnage: | 24,534 GT |
| Length: | 152.8 m (501.3 ft) |
| Beam: | 26 m (85.3 ft) |
| Installed power: | Wärtsilä |
| Speed: | 21 knots cruising, 24 knots max |
| Capacity: | 2,056 passengers 580 vehicles |
| Crew: | 130 |
MV Bretagne is a ferry operated by Brittany Ferries. She was built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France and has been sailing for Brittany Ferries since 1989. She was Brittany Ferries flagship until the arrival of MV Val de Loire in 1993.
Contents |
[edit] Service history
MV Bretagne ordered by Brittany Ferries in the late 1980's in order to increase capacity on BF's routes, and to set a new standard in on-board facilities. Bretagne was one of the first true cruise-ferries, offering cruise-type facilities on a ferry route. Built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Bretagne was launched on 4 February 1989 and entered service on 16 July the same year. Bretagne's interior was furnished in typical 'Breton' decor featuring original artwork by the Scottish painter Alexander Goudie.[2]
Bretagne was used on the Poole-Cherbourg route between 26 February 2007 and 10 March 2007. She then became the only current passenger vessel in the Brittany Ferries fleet to visit every port served by the company and to have operated on all the current routes. It was originally planned that she would return to Poole in January 2008 to cover for the absence of the Cotentin. In addition to sailing to Cherbourg alongside the Barfleur she would also have sailed between Poole and Santander at the weekend departing Poole on Friday night and arriving back on Monday morning. This plan was dropped shortly after the publication of the 2008 timetable and Bretagne instead covered for the refit on the Mont St Michel on the Portsmouth-Caen route.
In early 2009 Bretagne underwent a £5million refit. The work included creation of 50 'Club 4' cabins along with refurbishment of the rest of the ships cabins, refurbishment of the self service restaurant, refit of the 'La Gerbe de Locronan Salon de Thé' to create a wi-fi cafe area and rebuilding of the reclining seat lounges to create new lounge areas for business, reading and watching television[3][4].
[edit] Regular routes
- Plymouth-Santander 1989-1993, and 2007-present (winter only)
- Plymouth-Roscoff 1989-1993 (twice a week), 2004-2005 (full time), and 2007-present (winter only)
- Roscoff-Cork 1989-1993, and 2007-present (occasional crossings only)
- Portsmouth-Cherbourg March-September 2004
- Portsmouth-St Malo 1993-2004, late 2005-present
[edit] Other routes served
Bretagne has seen use on Portsmouth-Caen (Ouistreham) as refit cover and also the winter only route of Plymouth-St Malo. She also sailed between Portsmouth and Santander during the winter in the mid-nineties.
Though generally found on the Portsmouth-St Malo route Bretagne will also operate on other routes, normally in Winter, such as Portsmouth-Cherbourg and Plymouth-Roscoff.
[edit] Onboard facilities
[edit] Bars and restaurants
- Les Abers A la Carte Restaurant - Deck 7.
- La Baule Self Service Restaurant - Deck 7. Refurbished in 2009 and enlarged by removal of the separate freight drivers restaurant.
- Le Cafe 'La Gerbe de Locronan'- Deck 8. Rebuilt in 2009.
- Gwenn Ha Du Bar - Deck 8.
- The Yacht Club Piano Bar - Deck 7.
- Le Lido Bar (rarely open). Replaced by 'Games Planet' area in 2007 - Deck 9.
[edit] Shops
- La Boutique - Main shop on Deck 7, smaller shop on Deck 6.
- Le Kiosque - Deck 6.
- La Vitrine - Deck 7.
- Photo Shop - Deck 7.
[edit] Other facilities
- Cinemas - Deck 5.
- Children's Playroom - Deck 8.
- 376 Cabins - Decks 1, 2, 6 and 8 (Commodore Class, Club4, 2 and 4 berth cabins).
- 454 Reclining Seats - Decks 8 and 9.
- Commodore Lounge (rarely open) - Deck 9.
- During 2006 the Commodore Lounge was used as a storage area for the ships entertainer's costumes and equipment.
