Reviews & Ratings for the Barfleur

Brittany Ferries is set to retire the 'Barfleur', the oldest ship in its fleet, as it approaches its 34th year. This notable vessel will be withdrawn from service and placed on the market before the end of 2026. In conjunction with the retirement of the 'Barfleur', the historic Poole-Cherbourg route, which has been operating for four decades, will be permanently discontinued. Although Brittany Ferries currently charters the 'Norbay', which is 33 years old, it has made the decision to sell the 19-year-old 'Cotentin'. Furthermore, the Portsmouth-Le Havre route, first established in the early 1980s by Townsend Thoresen, is also slated to cease operations by the end of this year.

An incident occurred during the evening of July 31, 2019, when two passengers traveling aboard the ferry 'Barfleur' sustained injuries after their vehicle collided with the ship-to-shore ramp railing at Poole, following its arrival from Cherbourg. Fortunately, neither individual faced serious injuries; however, they did require medical attention for shock, cuts, and bruises. Ferry staff promptly provided initial assistance before paramedics arrived at the scene. An ambulance was dispatched as the crew tended to the driver and passenger, both of whom were later transported to Poole General Hospital with minor injuries. This unfortunate event highlights the importance of safety protocols during ferry disembarkation.

On November 6, 2017, at precisely 12:25 p.m., the CROSS Jobourg received an urgent alert from the Center for Maritime Medical Consultation Maritime (CCMM) based in Toulouse. This notification was triggered by a medical emergency involving a French female passenger aboard the ferry 'Barfleur,' which was traveling from Cherbourg to Portsmouth, approximately 13 nautical miles north of Cherbourg. Following a detailed discussion among the CROSS Jobourg team, CCMM, and the SAMU, it was determined that a medevac operation was necessary. A Navy helicopter from the Maupertus base was deployed, equipped with a specialized military medical team from Querqueville. The helicopter reached the vessel, allowing the medical team to conduct an initial assessment of the patient. Subsequently, the woman was hoisted aboard the helicopter and transported to Caen Carpiquet airport. Upon arrival at 1:20 p.m., she was swiftly transferred to the University Hospital in Caen for further medical treatment.

On February 1, 2017, at approximately 10:30 AM, an unexpected incident occurred aboard the ferry 'Barfleur' during a routine safety inspection of its car deck. The vessel had just departed from Cherbourg, heading towards Poole, when the migrant was discovered. Following the discovery, the ferry had to make an immediate U-turn to ensure proper protocols were followed. The individual was subsequently handed over to border police at around 11 PM that evening, after which the 'Barfleur' continued its journey to Poole. This incident sheds light on the ongoing challenges faced by maritime authorities regarding unauthorized migration.