Portsmouth International Port
Also known as Portsmouth Port or Portsmouth Ferry Port, Portsmouth International Port is a port and ferry terminal located in the city of Portsmouth on the South Coast of England. It operates departures and arrivals for cruise ships, cargo ships and passenger ferries.
Ferry Operators and Destinations
| Ferry Operator | Destination | Average Duration of Crossing | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brittany Ferries | Ouistreham (Caen) | 6 Hours | Up to three sailings per day |
| Brittany Ferries | Cherbourg-Octeville | 3 Hours (fast-ferry); 4 Hours 45 Minutes (cruise ferry) | Summer: One fast-ferry sailing per day; Winter: Irregular cruise ferry sailings |
| Brittany Ferries | Le Havre | 3 Hours 45 Minutes (fast-ferry) 6 Hours (Économie ferry) | All Year: One or two 'Économie' sailings per day Summer: One fastcraft return sailing per day |
| Brittany Ferries | St Malo | 8 Hours 30 Minutes | One departure per day |
| Brittany Ferries | Zierbena (Bilbao) | 23 Hours / 33 Hours | Two return sailings per week |
| Brittany Ferries | Santander | 24 Hours | Three return sailings per week |
| Condor Ferries | St Helier | 10 Hours 30 Minutes | Six sailings per week |
| Condor Ferries | St Peter Port | 6 Hours 30 Minutes | Six sailings per week |
Wightlink
Ferry services to Ryde and Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight also depart from Portsmouth but use the smaller domestic ferry terminal nearby and not the international terminal.
Launch of the Port
Portsmouth investigated three locations for a ferry port at the end of the 1960s and the current location 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 with the Earl William (Sealink) running to the Channel Islands, the Viking Victory (Townsend Thoresen) running to Cherbourg and the Brittany Ferries running to Saint-Malo.