Luxury ferry will bring more jobs to Plymouth

THE boss of Brittany Ferries has told The Herald a new £90 million luxury ship will operate out of Plymouth next spring, bringing jobs to the city.

David Longden, the firm’s managing director, said the new Armorique ferry will – when it starts operating in March – bring about 30 ‘direct’ jobs to people in the city.

He also said many more ‘indirect’ jobs would be created by the mammoth project when the luxury ferry hits the waves.

Mr Longden said he was ‘cautiously optimistic’ about the success of the Armorique. He said he hoped it would be a hit with travellers from Plymouth and across the country.

The city-based firm launched Armorique – a ship designed specifically for use between Plymouth and Roscoff – this week.

Once she is fitted out in December, the 165 metre vessel – which cost 120 million Euros to build – will have two cinemas, a large self-service restaurant, a waiter-service restaurant and a host of boutiques and bars.

The ship, named after the national park in Brittany, has room for 1,500 passengers and more than 500 cars, or around 60 freight units. There will be 248 cabins inside for use during overnight journeys or to relax in during the day.

Mr Longden said: “Between 25 and 30 jobs will be created in Plymouth with the Armorique – which may not sound a huge amount, but more will be created through suppliers as well.

“The ferry will be the most modern ferry operating out of the UK and will operate the Plymouth to Roscoff line.

“It is an investment of 120 million Euros, which is a lot of money and will cement Brittany Ferries’ future in Plymouth.

“We are cautiously optimistic. It is a testing period economically, but we haven’t seen the effect of that yet.

“This investment gives us a very good platform going into 2009 and beyond.”

Due to new technology, Brittany Ferries reckons the ship will be fuel-efficient and keep carbon emissions to a minimum. According to the Plymouth- based firm, the CO2 emissions per passenger are one third of the equivalent emissions on a short-haul flight.

Brittany Ferries has been operating its Plymouth to Roscoff route since the company was established 35 years ago.

It remains a popular route, with nearly 400,000 passengers using the crossing last year. The journey takes six hours in the day and eight hours at night.

Armorique will replace Pont L’Abbé, one of the two ships that provides the cross-channel service. The timetable is not due to change, so up to three crossings each way per day in peak season should stay.

Mr Longden said: “In the past, Plymouth to Roscoff has never benefited in the latest technology. This ferry is a token of our commitment to Plymouth and the West Country.

“Our numbers are ahead of last year. More people are using our ferries this year than last year to escape the British summer.”