Brittany Ferries stops cross-Channel ferry route early

A cross-Channel ferry route is to be shut down earlier than planned following a technical problem with a ship.

Brittany Ferries announced earlier this year that its last sailing between Portsmouth and Le Havre would be on 28 September.

It said an issue with the Commodore Clipper vessel meant it could no longer complete its final sailings. Travellers already booked can transfer to other crossings or get a full refund.

The company is ending the route, along with its Poole to Cherbourg service, due to financial challenges.

In a statement, the operator said: "We apologise to all affected customers, and are sorry that the route can't complete its final sailings; we know many had hoped to be part of them.

"It has been a pleasure for all at Brittany Ferries to link Portsmouth and Le Havre since 2013.

"However, the current economic context means the route is no longer viable and, sadly, we have had to make the difficult decision to close it."

Announcing the changes in June , the company said it faced a bill of €27m in 2026, which it blamed on rising taxes, Covid loan repayments, unfair competition and fewer travellers.

It said that although it had repaid half of its Covid support loan, significant debt remained, alongside new costs from the The European Union Emissions Trading System, despite major investments in greener ships.

Brittany Ferries insisted it would continue to offer a "comprehensive service" from Portsmouth, with regular sailings to Caen, Cherbourg and St Malo in France, to Guernsey in the Channel Islands, and to Santander and Bilbao in Spain.

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