Portsmouth International Port

Portsmouth International Port
The international ferry and cruise terminal
Interactive map of Portsmouth International Port
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom
LocationPortsmouth, Hampshire
Details
Opened1976
Operated byPortsmouth City Council
Owned byPortsmouth City Council
Type of HarborFerry, Cargo and Cruise
No. of berths7
Port directorMike Sellers
Statistics
Vessel arrivals49,285 (2022)
Annual cargo tonnage
933,114 (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

Portsmouth surveyed three locations for a ferry port at the end of the 1960s, before the current location near Whale Island 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[2] 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.

Portsmouth is Britain’s most successful municipal port. It is part of Portsmouth City Council, who have funded significant investment in the port’s infrastructure since 1976. The port’s annual surplus is used to invest in the city and fund other essential council services for the benefit of the people of Portsmouth.[3]

See the Portsmouth International Port Statistics book of 2024 for detailed statistics[4]

Continental Ferry Services

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 OperatorDestinationAverage Duration of CrossingFrequency Vessel
Brittany FerriesOuistreham (Caen), France7hrsUp to three departures a day. "Mont St Michel"
"Normandie"
Brittany FerriesCherbourg-Octeville, France4hrs 45minsIrregular cruise ferry sailings (approximately 3 a week). "Cotentin" "Salamanca"
"Santona" "Galicia"
Brittany FerriesLe Havre, France6hrsFour departures a week. "Cotentin"
Brittany FerriesSt Malo, France8hrs 30minsSummer: One departure per day
Winter: One departure every other day.		 "Saint Malo"
15hrs (via Guernsey)Once per week "Islander"
Brittany FerriesZierbena (Bilbao), Spain32hrsTwo departures a week. "Salamanca" "Santona" "Galicia"
Brittany FerriesSantander, Spain34hrsTwo departures a week. "Salamanca" "Santona" "Galicia"
Brittany FerriesSt Peter Port, Guernsey7hrs 30mins to 10hrs,
(Dependent on tidal rotation)		 Six passenger & freight departures a week, "Islander"
DFDS SeawaysSt Helier, Jersey8hrsOnce daily Passenger and freight
Once daily freight only		"Stena Vinga"
"Caesarea Trader"

Isle of Wight Ferry Services

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.[5] In addition, a passenger catamaran service sails from Portsmouth Harbour railway station to Ryde Pier.[6]

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

Future developments

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.[7] 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.[8]

The remaining £15m will be invested in improving facilities at Portico (formerly MMD Shipping Services), who operate two commercial quays within the Port.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Home". Portsmouth Port. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ↑ Shipping Today and Yesterday https://shippingtandy.com/features/portsmouth/
  3. ↑ "Economic impact reports". Portsmouth Port. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  4. ↑ "Port statistics". Portsmouth Port. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  5. ↑ "Portsmouth to Fishbourne car & passenger ferry". Wightlink Ferries. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  6. ↑ "Portsmouth to Ryde FastCat". Wightlink Ferries. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ "Portsmouth expecting passenger figures to triple following port upgrades". Cruise Trade News. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  9. ↑ "UK shipping company announces rebrand following £15m investment". Portico. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
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