MV Guillaume de Normandie

MV Guillaume de Normandie is a roll-on/roll-off ferry owned by Stena RoRo and operated by Brittany Ferries. She serves on a route between Portsmouth and Caen (Ouistreham). She was built at the China Merchants Jinling Shipyard, Weihai.

History
Name	Guillaume de Normandie
Namesake	William the Conqueror
Owner	Stena RoRo
Operator	Brittany Ferries
Port of registry	Morlaix, France
Route	Portsmouth⇄Caen
Ordered	26 February 2021
Builder	China Merchants Jinling Shipyard
Laid down	28 September 2023
Launched	12 April 2024
Christened	28 March 2025
Acquired	23 December 2024
Maiden voyage	18 April 2025
Identification	IMO 9946324
Status	In service
General characteristics
Class & type	E-Flexer-class ferry
Type	Ro-Pax Ferry
Tonnage	38,500 GT
Length	194.7 metres (639 ft)
Beam	27.8 metres (91 ft)
Draught	6.5 metres (21 ft)
Depth	9.65 metres (31.7 ft)
Decks	10
Installed power	2 x Wärtsilä W12V46DF dual fuel engines 27480 kW/HP
Speed	23 knots
Capacity	1310 Passengers, 460 Cars / 120 Freight Trailers

The ferry is named after William the Conqueror (Guillaume de Normandie in French), the Duke of Normandy who famously conquered England in 1066 and became its king.

History

The MV Guillaume de Normandie was built at the China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (formerly AVIC) in Weihai and is the final ship in the E-Flexer-class ferry series to be delivered to Brittany Ferries. Construction began with the cutting of the first piece of steel on February 6, 2024, followed by the keel laying on October 7, 2024.^[1]

The Guillaume de Normandie made its first passenger crossing for Brittany Ferries on April 18, 2025, directly replacing the MV Normandie in the fleet, which had operated between Portsmouth and Caen since 1992. A number of decorations from the Normandie were transferred across to the new ship, and her restaurant still bears the name "Riva Bella".

Design

Unlike its near-sister ship Saint-Malo, Guillaume de Normandie does not have an extra passenger deck, instead opting for an additional garage deck, providing more capacity for freight vehicles. This design choice reflects its primary function of connecting Portsmouth and Caen, a route heavily frequented by both tourists and freight transport. The interior design of the vessel reflects the Normandy region, featuring bright colors inspired by its landscapes and architectural elements that mirror the local style.^[2]

As a hybrid LNG ship, the MV Guillaume de Normandie is designed to operate with reduced environmental impact compared to traditional vessels. The ship utilizes dual-fuel engines, specifically 2 x Wärtsilä W12V46DF engines with a combined power of 27,480 kW/HP, allowing it to run on both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine diesel oil (MDO). This flexible fuel capability contributes to lower emissions and improved fuel efficiency.

Further reading

MV Guillaume de Normandie is named after the son of Normandy (better known as William the Conqueror^[3]) and the cultural links to the area don't stop there, Its interiors are inspired by the region of Normandy with bright colours to represent the landscape and the interior design mirroring the architectural style of the region.^[3] Its design differs slightly from its near sister ship, Saint-Malo, with it lacking the extra passenger deck in favour of an extra garage deck capable of holding freight.^[4] It, along with it’s near sister, Saint-Malo, are both the two largest Hybrid ferries operating in europe as of present.^[5]