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Brittany Ferries has discontinued a historic ferry route connecting the UK and France after more than four decades.
The direct Poole to Cherbourg, Normandy, service set sail for the final time on Monday, three weeks earlier than the ferry operator had planned.
Served by the Barfleur since 1992, the operational change will see the vessel moved to cover Rosslare to Cherbourg sailings from 12 October.
The last crossing was originally planned for the end of the month.
Contentin, the vessel formerly used on the Rosslare route, has been sold by Brittany Ferries and was required to be withdrawn from service by mid-October.
A potential backup vessel, the Commodore Clipper, suffered a “significant technical problem” with a gearbox failure earlier this month, forcing its withdrawal from the fleet pending remedial work.
The gearbox problem pushed the early closure of the Portsmouth to Le Havre route, with Barfleur moved early.
According to Brittany Ferries, bookings on the Poole to Cherbourg had “already weakened” ahead of the route closure.
Brittany Ferries began operating on the Poole to Cherbourg route in 1985 following its acquisition of Truckline Ferries, which originally established the route as a freight service in 1973. Barfleur’s first sailing from Rosslare to Cherbourg departed on 12 October.
The company has apologised to all affected travellers, offering alternative travel from Portsmouth or a full refund.
Christophe Mathieu, CEO of Brittany Ferries, said: “The reality is that, post Brexit, Rosslare/Cherbourg has become a strategically significant route for Brittany Ferries, carrying nearly 25 per cent of all freight traffic, so we must prioritise.
“I know there will be disappointment with this operational change, and I apologise to all those travelling from Poole in the latter half of October. We shall of course refund tickets or provide alternative travel on routes out of Portsmouth.
“It has been a privilege to serve the Poole-Cherbourg route since 1986. But we should be clear that we will still sail to Guernsey and onto France in our fast craft from Poole, even if we must say an early adieu to a much-loved vessel and direct services from Poole to Cherbourg.”
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