# Portsmouth International Port

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.

## History

Portsmouth investigated three locations for a ferry port at the end of the 1960s, before 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 Brittany Ferries running to Saint-Malo.

## Continental Ferry Services

| Ferry Operator | Destination | Average Duration of Crossing | Frequency | Vessel |
| Brittany Ferries | Ouistreham (Caen), France | 7hrs | Up to three departures a day. | "Mont Saint Michel" "Normandie" |
| Brittany Ferries | Cherbourg-Octeville, France | 3hrs (fast-ferry); 4hrs 45mins (cruise ferry) | Summer: Fast ferry service currently suspended. All year: Irregular cruise ferry sailings (approximately 3 a week). | "Condor Liberation" (suspended" "Cotentin" "Salamanca" "Santona" "Galicia" |
| Brittany Ferries | Le Havre, France | 6hrs | Four departures a week. | "Cotentin" |
| Brittany Ferries | St Malo, France | 8hrs 30mins | Summer: One departure per day; Winter: One departure every other day. | "Saint Malo" |
| Brittany Ferries | Zierbena (Bilbao), Spain | 32hrs | Two departures a week. | "Salamanca" "Santona" "Galicia" |
| Brittany Ferries | Santander, Spain | 34hrs | Two departures a week. | "Salamanca" "Santona" "Galicia" |
| Condor Ferries | St Helier, Jersey | 7hrs 30mins or 10hrs 30mins (Dependent on tidal rotation) | Nine passenger & freight departures a week, (6 daytime & 3 overnight). 6 Freight only departures a week. | |
| Condor Ferries | St Peter Port, Guernsey | 6hrs 30mins or 12hrs 30mins (Dependent on tidal rotation) | Nine passenger & freight departures a week, | |
| Condor Ferries | Saint Malo, France | 18hrs (via Channel Islands) | Once per week | "Commodore Goodwill" |

## Isle of Wight Ferry Services

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. In addition, a passenger catamaran service sails from Portsmouth Harbour railway station to Ryde Pier.
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. 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.
The remaining £15m will be invested in improving facilities at Portico (formerly MMD Shipping Services), who operate two commercial quays within the Port.