BRITTANY Ferries have confirmed that their Poole to Cherbourg route will not be operating for the rest of the summer.

The ferry company have announced that five of its ships will carry passengers when services resume from next Monday June 29, with a further three ships covering four routes re-opening to passengers in July.

However, the Barfleur will not be operating due to “unpredictable demand” and a “shortage of available cabins based on ship configuration.”

“We are very much looking forward to welcoming holiday makers back on board starting on Monday,” said Christophe Mathieu, CEO Brittany Ferries.

“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.”

Brittany Ferries will also not be running routes from Portsmouth to Le Harve and Cherbourg as they will be served by Connemara.

The company state that the safety of passengers, freight drivers and crew has been their top priority throughout the Covid-19 crisis. As such, passenger capacity will be limited on all vessels.

Capacity limits will be ship dependent and will be reviewed as the summer progresses. However, all services connecting France and the UK for example will be limited to 550 passengers from 29 June.

This measure reduces capacity by more than 60 per cent and will apply until mid-July at the earliest.

A range of new sanitary and social distancing measures will also be imposed on all vessels.

For more information and to find out more about Brittany Ferries 12-point guide to safe travel this summer, visit the Brittany Ferries website.