It’s National Ferry Fortnight on 5-19 March 2016 and what better time to start thinking about your next voyage? The annual campaign supported by Discover Ferries, the body representing the UK’s major ferry lines, invites would-be travellers to reconsider the journey to their destination – something that many of us associate with stress or discomfort. The fortnight is about celebrating the simplicity and pleasures of ferry travel, with this year’s theme ‘Be a Ferry First-Timer’ urging all of us aboard.

Ferries provide the freedom to start your holidays from the moment you board – bars, restaurants and entertainment are all part of the experience on many services, and if the weather’s fine there’s nothing more relaxing than passing the time on deck, a world away from maddening traffic jams, airport queues and overcrowded stations.

All ferry companies are mindful of the need to keep their environmental footprint to a minimum. Brittany Ferries continues to challenge and improve upon standards as its Communications Manager, Christopher Jones, explained: “The company was founded in 1973 by farmers who had a profound respect for their land and wider environment. It’s natural therefore that today we see our role as stewards of the sea, and for many years we’ve practiced a 'clean sea' policy.

“The latest generation of Brittany Ferries is fast, powerful and green, producing ten per cent less CO2 than earlier vessels. Our sea- and shore-based engineers demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the environment, for example by optimising each ship’s propulsion plant to minimise energy consumption or by employing special paints that are friendly to the marine environment, and low-sulphur fuels. We frequently paint and scrub our ships’ underwater hulls, reducing resistance through the water, consequently cutting fuel consumption and emissions.”

The biggest obstacle the company faces is cutting emissions to comply with strict new European legislation. Christopher said: “By the end of March we will have refitted six ships with state-of-the-art gas filtration systems at a cost of £60m – so this hurdle will be largely overcome.”

Sanitation is the least glamorous side of ferry life but Brittany Ferries runs a tight ship, with none of its contaminated water pumped into the sea. Christopher added: “Our ship sanitation systems are highly advanced, efficient and clean. Below decks everything is planned to reduce the impact on the environment, and in the engine control room sophisticated computers maximise efficiency and minimise environmental impact. All waste is treated, and contaminated water is stored on board, to be pumped ashore cleanly once it reaches port.”

Brittany Ferries is addressing the impact of ferry traffic on wildlife, too. For the past ten years it has worked with ORCA, the charity that cares for whales and dolphins. Wildlife education officers sail with Brittany Ferries, engaging passengers in ORCA’s work through presentations and the monitoring of animals on the voyage. This research is later shared with governments and research institutions enabling the UK, France and Spain to meet the marine monitoring obligations of the EU Habitats Directive.

Wildlife spotters may also notice something rather unexpected on their travels. Brittany Ferries’ luxury Pont-Aven car ferry installed bat detector devices on the vessel’s masts in 2013 that have gathered direct evidence that British bats migrate over the sea to mainland Europe, a fact that had previously been a mystery.

The Club’s own European Travel Service works closely with the ferry companies to offer members great deals and prices that are always lower than booking direct, and also includes some excellent offers with Brittany Ferries. Head to our ferry pages for the best deals or call 024 7642 2024.