Ship of the Month Barfleur

Barfleur fresh from her 2015 overhaul in Santander, where the twin funnels were enlarged to accept new exhaust scrubbers.

Eventually, an agreement was reached with KvaernerMasa Yards to build Barfleur at its Helsinki New Shipyard site, and work on hull no.485 began in March 1991. Cabins and interior fittings were assembled in Nantes and transported by road to Finland. Floating out took place on 26 July 1991, followed by sea trials in December; her former senior master Claude Lenoir recalled, ‘She was stable, the engines worked like a dream; all the systems worked perfectly’.

With construction almost finished, the unusual decision was made to increase vehicle capacity by lengthening the hull, although there was speculation that this was in fact due to deadweight issues that had become apparent during sea trials, so on 22 December 1991 Barfleur returned to the covered building dock.

Her design allowed for the addition of up to three 9m mid-sections, but only one was necessary. Early in the New Year the ship was cut in two, ready to receive the new section, which added £5 million to the £53 million cost. The extra section allowed for additional passenger cabins and a new caféteria, as well as more garage space. When built, the 20,133gt ship was 157.65m long, with capacity for 1,212 passengers and 1,530 lane metres, making her one of the largest freight ferries then on the English Channel. Drive-through operation was provided over two decks. MacGregor-Navire installed all cargo access systems, including clam-type bow doors, stern door/ramp and cargo lift access to the lower freight hold.

Brittany Ferries took delivery of their new ship, then carrying the grey and yellow Truckline livery, on 26 March 1992, and the following day she sailed for Cherbourg. A slight detour took the ferry towards the small French fishing port of Barfleur, where the town’s mayor commandeered a boat to greet the namesake ship.