According to Jim Stewart, the chief executive of Poole Harbour Commissioners, the Barfleur ferry could be set for a return to Poole Harbour next year. When the Brittany Ferries vessel was removed from duty in Poole Harbour, the port sustained a 20 per cent reduction in revenue. The loss of the Barfleur ferry also gave rise to 41 redundancies – more than 30 per cent of the workforce at the port.

Speaking at the 13th annual meeting of the Poole Harbour Commissioners, Mr Stewart announced: “We have been in talks directly with Brittany Ferries over the last two months and a final decision has not yet been made, but we are both optimistic the Barfleur will return back to Poole in early 2011. This is very welcome from Poole Harbour Commissioners’ point of view and also from the hundreds of loyal [Brittany Ferries] customers who have missed the ship.”

Brittany Ferries director, Steve Tuckwell, confirmed the possibility of the Barfleur’s return to Poole Harbour but was more reserved with his optimism. Mr Tuckwell said: “We are still in discussions. No decisions have been made as yet. It is a possibility. It has always been a possibility. We can’t continue with the ship being laid up doing nothing.”

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