A Short History of the Mv Barfleur

Mv Barfleur, April 2022

On 30 June 2026, Brittany Ferries announced it would close the Poole–Cherbourg route and sell the Barfleur, citing “rising tax burdens, COVID loan repayments, cost-of-living concerns among passengers and unfair competition on the Eastern Channel".

Here, long term member of the PCTA and esteemed local heritage author David Warhurst, a local historian and retired scientist who writes about Poole's heritage, gives a potted history of the ferry service between our two towns.

For more information on the vast number of subjects David has studied and written on see his website History in Poole.

In 1990 Brittany Ferries decided to increase capacity on the hugely popular Poole-Cherbourg route, by ordering the construction of Barfleur. It was built at the Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Finland, and during her construction, due to the route's increasing popularity, the ship was lengthened from its original design by nine metres. Following sea trials, she entered service between Cherbourg and Poole in April 1992.

“She was specifically built to navigate the shallow waters of Poole Harbour”.

For more information on navigating Poole Harbour see: Poole Harbour Commissioners useful guide

PHC- Poole Boat Haven Guide to Poole Harbour- ‘not to be used for navigation’.

The ship was originally commissioned for Brittany Ferries' Truckline subsidiary for freight transport. However in 1999 she started to operate a traditional passenger ferry services, and was re-painted in Brittany Ferries passenger fleet colours. Representatives of PCTA and Dorset Twinning Association have used the service very well since for many cultural and formal occasions - see PCTA Timeline

Technical specification for Mv Barfleur

900 years since the White Ship disaster

The White Ship wrecked off the coast of Barfleur, 25th November 1120

The Mv Barfleur is named after the pretty port town of Barfleur, -en-Cotentin a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages of France) Association. This article from the British Library website tells its links to medieval history between England and Normandie.

Links to articles on the curtailment of the Poole-Cherbourg ferry service are below. The PCTA have requested meetings with those involved to discuss any plans going forward:

Captain Brian Murphy, Poole Harbour Commissioners statement:

PCTA article in the Bournemouth Echo

Brittany Ferries Newsroom page