Khaines Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 1 hour ago, Gareth said: The other mystery is why, if (as several have posted) she was doing well on the Poole - Santander route, she was removed from it in the first place. The charter terms to Stena must have been very favourable. Somewhere in the distant past on this site there was a discussion about that, she also did Poole - Cherbourg as well, and that wasn’t very busy. The amount of freight could be carried by Barfleur AND keep a pax service as well. I remember something about it because when did she go to Stena and when was it Barfleur came back from DFDS? BF stopped the summer service with Condor as well when Barfleur returned. There isn’t enough freight between Poole and Cherbourg to sustain Cotentin doing it. Link to post Share on other sites
Gareth Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 Yes I completely see that the Cherbourg route was not needed. But that doesn’t explain why she was taken off Santander. Maybe it was because 2 round trips per week was not enough to make her viable, and she was too slow to fit in 3 so the Cherbourg runs were necessary to fill her time. But ran half empty. Link to post Share on other sites
Khaines Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 This may provide a bit of an explanation about Cotentin and Spain. If you can put up with the Echo pop ups ling enough to read it! http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/10617655.Brittany_Ferries_pulls_freight_ship_from_Poole/ Link to post Share on other sites
TonyMWeaver Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 24 minutes ago, Khaines said: This may provide a bit of an explanation about Cotentin and Spain. If you can put up with the Echo pop ups ling enough to read it! http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/10617655.Brittany_Ferries_pulls_freight_ship_from_Poole/ Good old Chris Jones, met him a while ago, very nice guy. Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 https://actu.fr/normandie/cherbourg-en-cotentin_50129/trafic-transmanche-cotentin-revient-cherbourg-va-remplacer-barfleur_28564368.html The article above seems to suggest (and have confirmed by Jean-Marc Roué) that Cotentin will be returning in 2021 to replace the Barfleur. It also suggests that adaptations will be made (if not already by Stena) to allow for carriage of passengers in addition to freight. (touch paper has been lit... running away now) Link to post Share on other sites
neilcvx Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 A Truckline vessel replacing an economie vessel. Link to post Share on other sites
Nick Hyde Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 Not good news then for a decent passenger service? Link to post Share on other sites
Solo Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 Just now, Nick Hyde said: Not good news then for a decent passenger service? But tells you who is using the service. They do accept there needs to be some passenger availability. Link to post Share on other sites
Fine Whine Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 As Jim has now legged it (🤣) my assumption is she’ll be transformed into an Armorique 2, which always was a plan B with her design and would make sense. Chris Brigitte is probably still choking over her mid morning croissant 🥐 ! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
neilcvx Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 So where will Barfluer end up ? @hhvferry any ideas? Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 Just now, Fine Whine said: As Jim has now legged it (🤣) my assumption is she’ll be transformed into an Armorique 2, which always was a plan B with her design and would make sense. Chris Brigitte is probably still choking over her mid morning croissant 🥐 ! An interesting assumption - not sure they'll go that far, but it would be a relatively quick way to obtain a new vessel having already paid for a chunk of it. Link to post Share on other sites
David Williams Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 Has some passenger capability https://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferries/stena-baltica Link to post Share on other sites
David Williams Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 4 minutes ago, neilcvx said: So where will Barfluer end up ? @hhvferry any ideas? Baked Bean Cans ? 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Nick Hyde Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 At the moment only licensed to carry 176 passengers as per Stena website so not all that good at all. Unless significant work is done a major downgrade for the route passenger wise. Link to post Share on other sites
neilcvx Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 And I’m sure most cabins have shared toilet and shower facilities not what the modern traveler wants , I wonder if Chris is correct to a point and they could adapt her a bit to add cabins but not the amount Armorique has. Link to post Share on other sites
crechbleiz Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 6 minutes ago, David Williams said: Baked Bean Cans ? cutlery to replace the disposable plastic cutlery across the fleet?... 1 Link to post Share on other sites
neilcvx Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 (edited) It does say in the article she will be adapted to carry passengers. Edited October 17, 2019 by neilcvx Link to post Share on other sites
Nick Hyde Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 Just now, neilcvx said: It does say in the article she will be adapted to carry passengers. How will they sort out the shared ensuite facilities in the cabins though? It's a long time since any UK ferries offered cabins with just wash basins or not even that. Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 2 minutes ago, Nick Hyde said: How will they sort out the shared ensuite facilities in the cabins though? It's a long time since any UK ferries offered cabins with just wash basins or not even that. It seems in Stena-land what they've done is made the shared ensuite into an ensuite for just one of the cabins, with the other making use of a shared bathroom outside of the cabin. Stena's website also says that as-is, the vessel is not suitable for wheelchair users. Link to post Share on other sites
David Williams Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 How important are the cabins on a crossing this short ? Link to post Share on other sites
Nick Hyde Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 (edited) Cabins are pretty important I think particularly, if there are any overnight trips planned. Edited October 17, 2019 by Nick Hyde 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 31 minutes ago, Nick Hyde said: Cabins are pretty important I think particularly, if there are any overnight trips planned. Depends on the schedule though - at the moment there are many days where the Barfleur doesn't actually sail overnight. Link to post Share on other sites
David Williams Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 6 minutes ago, Jim said: Depends on the schedule though - at the moment there are many days where the Barfleur doesn't actually sail overnight. In August next year, all sailings are day time and in general the vast majority are. One option may be to make overnight crossings freight only, if there is demand for it. Link to post Share on other sites
Paully Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 29 minutes ago, neilcvx said: So where will Barfluer end up ? @hhvferry any ideas? Gadani Beach??? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
hhvferry Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 23 minutes ago, Jim said: It seems in Stena-land what they've done is made the shared ensuite into an ensuite for just one of the cabins, with the other making use of a shared bathroom outside of the cabin. Stena's website also says that as-is, the vessel is not suitable for wheelchair users. No on Stena Baltica they are still shared. It's a bit disconcerting to find/hear someone else using your loo. Although then again on the Primrose once we had a private cabin and still someone else managed to get in, make their mark, and exit whilst we were out on deck. Barfleur should be a good buy on the second hand market. One very careful owner, from a very good shipbuilder, not that old, relatively lightly used for a chunk of her life and, most importantly, quite a handy size for some operators. If Stena hadn't just ploughed loads into the Europe she might have been a nice buy for Fishguard. She'd also do well for someone on the middle distance Moroccan routes or even an Aegean inter island operator. I'm sure, unless she has underlying mechanical issues, she has plenty of life yet. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
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