Channel cruiser with elbow room

Brittany Ferries? new flagship, Mont St Michel, entered service on the Portsmouth-Caen route in December last year and is claimed to be the largest cruise ferry to have been purpose-built for operations on the Channel. The 35,600g vessel represents an investment of $128 million and brings with it new levels of luxury on the Channel crossing.

Built by the Dutch shipbuilder van der Giessen-de Noord, the newbuilding has a 2,250 lane metre capacity spread over three decks and offering stowage space for 880 cars or 132 trucks. The roro access/ transfer equipment was provided by MacGregor and is based on bow and stern ramps to give a drive through facility on two decks levels and also to link the main vehicle deck with the upper and lower cargo decks. The bow door offers a clear opening width of 6.9m and a height of 5.1m while the ramp has a 6.1m driveway. The stern door/ ramp configuration has a clear opening measuring 16.1m wide x 5.1m high. A sliding weather tight door is arranged in the forward superstructure bulkhead offering a clear opening 6.5m wide x 5m for direct access from the shoreside linkspan to the upper vehicle deck.

Up to 2,200 passengers can be accommodated and will have at their disposal a wide range of facilities including three restaurants (? la carte restaurant ? 370 seats, the free-flow buffet line ? 375 seats, as well as the drivers? restaurant), two bars, two cinemas, a shopping mall, an infants? club and, for the first time, a special teenagers? area. In addition to the 458 reclining seats, there are 800 berths in 215 cabins which have been specially designed to provide more space while, in keeping with Brittany Ferries? concern for the handicapped, there are a number of cabins specifically designed for the disabled. For those seeking even more luxury, there are eight Commodore Class suites with all the comforts of a top class hotel.

The ferry is powered by four main MaK medium speed 6M43 diesels each with an output of 5,400kW and powering twin controllable pitch propellers giving the ship a service speed of 21.5kts. Electrical power is provided by 3 1,600kW Wärtsilä 9L20 diesel gensets providing power to two 1,600kW Leroy-Somer generators Application of the latest technology will lead to more comfort by, for example, substantially reducing engine vibration and noise and providing state-of-the-art individually controlled climate control in every cabin.

“When travelling nowadays one of the great luxuries is space and we have worked hard with the designers of this ship to provide this for our passengers,” says David Longden, Brittany Ferries? managing director. All channel ferry operators are at pains to emphasise that passengers boarding their ships start their holiday the moment they drive on board and this has been the main driver in the move towards cruise ferries.