FEARS have been raised that the Barfleur, which is about to embark on a Dover to Calais six-month charter, may never return to Poole.

Ferry operator DFDS Seaways has to modify the former harbour stalwart to fit her new ports, after Brittany Ferries announced it was pulling the Poole to Cherbourg route because of the economic situation.

She will also be renamed when she joins the Norman Spirit to offer 10 daily departures from Dover and Calais from April 27.

A concerned Barfleur fan, who did not wish to be named, said: “This would mean some modifications to her to enable her to dock on the linkspans, welding an ugly ‘cow catcher’ on the front.

“Berths at Dover and Calais have a ramp that is lowered onto the ship, rather than at Poole and Cherbourg, where the ships’ internal ramps lower. Also DFDS have a history of extending their charters and ultimately buying the vessels they charter,” they added.

“It looks to me that Barfleur will never return to Poole.”

Carsten Jensen, Head of DFDS’s routes in the Channel, said the modifications to get the ship quayside were relatively simple and would be easy to reverse.

Bruce Grant-Braham, chairman of the Poole Tourism Partnership, said he was glad the Barfleur was not going outside Europe.

“These changes sound peculiar to the eastern part of the Channel,” he said. “And whether they would work in Poole I am not sure. But at least she is not disappearing completely from the Channel run.”

Poole’s port could see visitor numbers triple or even quadruple as it hosts Condor Ferries this summer, due to a fault in Weymouth, added Mr Grant-Braham.

He said: “We need to keep as many of those passengers overnight in Poole and show them the delights.”

“Nobody’s done the costings but it’s a great possibility for business.”

And while the renaming of the Barfleur “tugs at the heart strings” he is sure Poole would welcome back any ferry service, whatever it is called.

Economy will drive final decision BRITTANY Ferries say it’s too early to say if they will use the Barfleur for Poole to Cherbourg in 2013, and a decision will be made based on the economic and market conditions.

Any modifications made while on charter would not prevent the ship operating from Poole in the future because she has to be returned in her original state at the end.

The Barfleur has been for sale for two years and any offer from any organisation would be considered.