Passengers will need passports for new Portsmouth sailings via France

Brittany Ferries says the route will open up trade links, but passengers using the traditional ferry to the UK will need a passport as it going via France.

From 1 November, the Brittany Ferries' conventional service to Portsmouth will increase from six days a week to daily, with a combination of direct sailings and a new triangular route via Cherbourg.

Using this connection leaves passengers onboard in the port for around two hours, with a total Guernsey to the UK journey time of just over 11 hours.

Passengers must carry a valid passport because of Brexit restrictions, but Guernsey's Economic Development President, Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller, hopes that is only in the short-term.

"We are in ongoing dialogue with the Home Office to see whether Guernsey could secure an exemption for those passengers travelling via Cherbourg, but for the time being this is the requirement."

However, she says it's easy for animal lovers to take their pet on the ferry:

"Pet travel will not require any additional documentation, and because we still maintain the direct sailings on some of the days, islanders can choose to travel direct with their pet."

The triangular route was announced in June when Brittany Ferries announced wider service changes to make savings.

Service changes as Brittany Ferries makes savings 

Both the States and the ferry company say the timetable will help deliver a resilient and sustainable ferry service for the island and allows better use of the Brittany Ferries network.

From Cherbourg there's a rail connection to Bayonne in the south west of France, close to the Spanish border, and ferries to Rosslare in Ireland..

Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller says the winter timetable strengthens connectivity:

"It is a strategic priority for the Committee to develop longer-term economic resilience and supply-chain diversification.

"Given the impact of climate change on food security and increasing geo-political instability, we cannot take for granted where our food and essential goods come from, and right now nearly 100% of our supply-chain is tied to the UK. 

"The new schedule creates new opportunities for travel and trade via Cherbourg, such as importing building materials and food.

"We are already in discussions with a French supermarket.

"It may also offer a more direct export channel for seafood and other local products."

Christophe Mathieu, Chief Executive of Brittany Ferries says passengers can link up with Portsmouth, Poole, Cherbourg, St Malo and Jersey this winter:

"That means more choice for passengers and more connectivity for freight and logistics, which is good news for islanders, for tourism and for local businesses, especially retailers.

“Islanders and businesses need a service they can rely on through the winter, and a regular daily conventional ferry service gives them that resilience."

The winter timetable is for bookings through to 21 March 2027 while the summer schedule will be released next week (5 October).