The MV Commodore Clipper will resume daily winter sailings between Poole and Cherbourg, as confirmed by Brittany Ferries, marking a return for the route since its last operation in 2011. The service will run continuously from December 14, 2025, to March 29, 2026.
Christophe Mathieu, chief executive of Brittany Ferries, highlighted that the reinstatement of the route aligns with the introduction of a new "rail motorway" from Bayonne to Cherbourg, which began transporting trailers recently. This link facilitates the movement of goods from southwest France to Cherbourg and onwards to the UK via Poole.
The MV Commodore Clipper, a vessel formerly with Condor Ferries, will operate during the winter before the regular ship Barfleur takes over. The current Poole–Bilbao freight route, managed by the MN Pelican, will be phased out following the debut of the Bayonne–Cherbourg rail corridor.
Poole Harbour's chief executive, Captain Brian Murphy, emphasized a commitment to maintaining "reliable, year-round cross-Channel connectivity and a thriving regional economy" with Brittany Ferries.
The Poole to Cherbourg crossing duration is approximately four hours and thirty minutes. Details regarding passenger bookings and schedules are anticipated later this year. Previous operations for winter sailings were conducted by the Connemara in 2019, but the last full-season daily service was in 2011.
Source: Connexion France
