Brittany Ferries announces return of Cork to Roscoff service

Brittany Ferries has confirmed the limited return to scheduled passenger services including its Cork to Roscoff service.

The first Cork to Roscoff sailing of the summer will depart Cork on July 4.

Brittany Ferries has said that the safety of passengers, freight drivers and crew has been “the top priority” throughout the Covid-19 crisis and passenger capacity will be limited on all vessels.

Capacity limits will be ship dependent, and will be reviewed as the summer progresses.

A range of new sanitary and social distancing measures which “go above and beyond compliance with statutory guidance in countries served by the company” will also be imposed on all vessels.

In preparation for the resumption of passenger sailings, Brittany Ferries has drawn-up a 12-point guide to safe travel this summer.

These include:

- Passengers may be required by national or local authorities to fill-in a health form prior to travel. If you are unwell, please stay at home.

- Passengers must check-in at least 90 minutes before departure 

- Boarding and disembarkation will be staggered, to avoid queues.

- Masks must be worn while boarding, disembarking and in public areas on board 

- Wash hands regularly, use hand sanitisers - and follow all crew instructions 

- Customers are asked to read onboard signs and to respect physical distancing guidance in all public areas 

- A cabin or reserved seat is compulsory on all sailings. To minimise contact with others, remain in this personal space as much as possible

- Fresh sea air is supplied in all public areas on board, including cabins 

- Enhanced cleaning with virucidal cleaners will take place during and between sailings 

- In restaurants and bars, meal choices may be limited and space adapted to comply with new safety protocols

- In all public areas, crew will wear masks when interacting with passengers 

- Medical assistance is available in the event of a suspected COVID-19 case, including a dedicated cabin for isolation 

Other measures are also in place, including full crew training and a dedicated nurse on all sailings.

From late March to May, the company has been carrying only essential freight which has allowed it to implement, practise and fine-tune measures on board working with lorry drivers.

Brittany Ferries has thanked its crew for adapting “quickly and professionally” to many new procedures and to its drivers, carrying cargo such as fresh food and medicines, for their understanding and compliance with strict measures imposed during the worst of the crisis.

CEO of Brittany Ferries, Christophe Mathieu, said he is “very much looking forward to welcoming holiday makers back on board”.

“Operationally, we have put in place everything for a safe return to service and we have practised these measures daily. Our job now is to reassure passengers that ferries are open for business and that travel by sea is the safest way to enjoy an international holiday.

“It won’t be quite the same Brittany Ferries experience on board of course, at least to start with. However, it will still be a relaxing sea bridge to take you to the beautiful destinations you have been dreaming of during lockdown,” he said.