French shipowner Brittany Ferries, based in Roscoff, is today announcing the arrival of an exceptional vessel in the French merchant navy.

Featuring a hybrid propulsion system (liquefied natural gas (LNG/bio-LNG) and electric batteries), the Saint-Malo is a European first, a technological feat of which Brittany and France can be justifiably proud.

After her christening on 31 January 2025, she will enter service on 12 February 2025 on the Saint-Malo/Portsmouth route.

After registering the Saint Malo with Maritime Affairs under the French flag, Jean-Marc Roué, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Brittany Ferries, and the ship's crew were able to open the ceremony to raise the colours on Thursday 5 December 2024 in Santander (Spain), in the presence of a number of French and Spanish personalities, including Didier Le Gac, MP for Finistère, Marianne Carré, Consul General of France in Spain, Olivier Le Bras, Regional Councillor for Brittany, representing Loïg Chesnais-Girard, President of the Brittany Region, as well as don César Díaz Maza, President of the Santander Port Authority and Carmen Martinez Ruiz, Chief of Police for the Cantabria Region. The three colours now proudly float on this manifesto for the decarbonisation of European shipping.

As Jean-Marc Roué pointed out, ‘ At a time when Brussels has just set draconian targets for the decarbonisation of European shipping over the next 30 years, Brittany Ferries is offering Europe its first large hybrid vessel, the only one capable of meeting these targets to date. Our dual LNG/electric propulsion, and eventually BioGNL/electric, is the only one that can guarantee zero sulphur oxide and fine particle emissions in the ports we serve. Above all, the Saint-Malo is a major step in the decarbonisation of the maritime sector, and a strong social commitment on the part of the Breton shipping company’.

The new cabin mix on the Saint Malo means an increase from 200 to 300 passengers per night crossing, on more than 150 crossings a year. With this new offer, there is a potential for 35,000 to 40,000 more passengers to Brittany and 5.5 to 6.2 million euros more hotel sales per year.

As far as freight is concerned, the interior configuration of the Saint-Malo has been redesigned to provide greater capacity all year round (compared with the Bretagne, the Saint-Malo offers 23 more lorries and 24 more cars). Unlike the Bretagne, with 100% passengers on board, this ship will still be able to take 20 lorries per crossing. Its garage will be considerably higher and longer, allowing it to carry more motorhomes and caravans. With its wider aisles, it will be more comfortable for passengers. At maximum capacity, the longer Saint-Malo can take 63 lorries, compared with 37 on the Bretagne.

The Saint-Malo ferry in figures

• Purpose: Saint-Malo / Portsmouth route
• Length 194.7 m (43.5 m longer than the Bretagne it replaces)
• Beam 27.8 m
• Number of decks: 10
• Average speed: 23 knots
• Engines: two engines with a power of 13,740 KW each.
• Number of passengers: 1,290
• Number of cabins: 386 passenger cabins, including 54 luxury cabins, i.e. 38 more than on Bretagne.
• Adapted cabins: 8 cabins adapted for people with reduced mobility.
• Family cabins: 5 large family cabins.
• Pet cabins: 27 cabins will now be equipped to accommodate pets, in addition to 12 kennel places.