Portsmouth International Port

Portsmouth International Port
The international ferry and cruise terminal
Map
Click on the map for a fullscreen view
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom
LocationPortsmouth, Hampshire
Details
Opened1976
Operated byPortsmouth City Council
Owned byPortsmouth City Council
Type of harbourFerry, Cargo and Cruise
No. of berths7
Port directorMike Sellers
Statistics
Vessel arrivals49,285 (2022)
Annual cargo tonnage933,114 (2022)
Passenger traffic6.885,687 (2022)
Website
www.portsmouth-port.co.uk

50°48′43″N 1°05′27″W / 50.8120366°N 1.0907384°W / 50.8120366; -1.0907384

Portsmouth International Port, also known as Portsmouth Continental Ferry Port, is the harbour authority for the city of Portsmouth, Hampshire, located on the south coast of Great Britain.[1]

History

[edit]

Portsmouth investigated three locations for a ferry port at the end of the 1960s, before the current location was chosen. The choice was based on cost and the likely benefit of cross-channel ferries. The site was at the end of the newly constructed M275. Originally built with two berths the site opened in 1976 with the Earl William (Sealink) running to the Channel Islands, the Viking Victory (Townsend Thoresen) running to Cherbourg, and Brittany Ferries running to Saint-Malo.

Continental Ferry Services

[edit]
MV Cotentin, a Ro-Ro ferry operated by Brittany Ferries on freight services to Le Havre, France.
Commodore Goodwill, a Ro-Ro ferry operated by Condor Ferries on freight services to the Channel Islands.
Ferry Operator Destination Average Duration of Crossing Frequency Vessel
Brittany Ferries Ouistreham (Caen), France 7hrs Up to three departures a day. "Mont Saint Michel"

"Normandie"

Brittany Ferries Cherbourg-Octeville, France 3hrs (fast-ferry); 4hrs 45mins (cruise ferry) Summer: Fast ferry service currently suspended.
All year: Irregular cruise ferry sailings (approximately 3 a week).
"Condor Liberation" (suspended"

"Cotentin" "Salamanca" "Santona" "Galicia"

Brittany Ferries Le Havre, France 6hrs Four departures a week. "Cotentin"
Brittany Ferries St Malo, France 8hrs 30mins Summer: One departure per day;

Winter: One departure every other day.

"Bretagne"

"Armorique" (winter)

Brittany Ferries Zierbena (Bilbao), Spain 32hrs Two departures a week. "Salamanca" "Santona" "Galicia"
Brittany Ferries Santander, Spain 34hrs Two departures a week. "Salamanca" "Santona" "Galicia"
Condor Ferries St Helier, Jersey 7hrs 30mins or 10hrs 30mins

(Dependent on tidal rotation)

Nine passenger & freight departures a week,

(6 daytime & 3 overnight). 6 Freight only departures a week.

Condor Ferries St Peter Port, Guernsey 6hrs 30mins or 12hrs 30mins

(Dependent on tidal rotation)

Nine passenger & freight departures a week,
Condor Ferries Saint Malo, France 18hrs (via Channel Islands) Once per week "Commodore Goodwill"

Isle of Wight Ferry Services

[edit]
MV Victoria of Wight, a ferry operated by Wightlink, departing Portsmouth harbour.
A Hovertravel service departing Southsea beach.

Ferry services to the Isle of Wight, operated by Wightlink, also depart from Portsmouth from other terminals within the city, away from Portsmouth International Port. The car ferry, which sails to Fishbourne, uses a dedicated terminal based in Old Portsmouth.[2] In addition, a passenger catamaran service sails from Portsmouth Harbour railway station to Ryde Pier.[3]

Hovertravel also operate passenger hovercraft services from Southsea beach to Ryde.

Future developments

[edit]

In early 2019, it was announced that owners Portsmouth City Council had agreed to invest £33.7m to expand the Port. £18.7m would go towards developments within Portsmouth International Port. This would include levelling and extending Berth 2 so it could accommodate ships up to 255m in length, upgrading the passenger terminal to provide dedicated facilities for cruise passengers and replacing the 35 year-old passenger boarding tower.[4] It is predicted that the improvements will lead to an increase in the number of cruise passengers at the Port from 50,000 to 150,000 in the coming years.[5]

The remaining £15m will be invested in improving facilities at Portico (formerly MMD Shipping Services), who operate two commercial quays within the Port.[6]

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Home". Portsmouth Port. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Portsmouth to Fishbourne car & passenger ferry". Wightlink Ferries. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Portsmouth to Ryde FastCat". Wightlink Ferries. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Cruise ships using Portsmouth port set to double as business leaders eye income boost". www.portsmouth.co.uk. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Portsmouth expecting passenger figures to triple following port upgrades". Cruise Trade News. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  6. ^ "UK shipping company announces rebrand following £15m investment". Portico. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.