PASSENGER MARKET FROM UK TO FRANCE/SPAIN

FREIGHT MARKET FROM UK TO FRANCE/SPAIN

UPDATE ON MOTORWAY OF THE SEAS

North Sea Port Conference – Ijmuiden 9th October 2008

Turnover = 380M€2.700 employees

2.8 millions pax in 2008(85% british)

800.000 passenger vehicles

235.000 freight units

6 conventionnal vessels, 1 fastcraft, 1 freight vessel serving 4 countries, 9 ports, 8 shipping lines.

Passenger market to France back in growth for the second consecutive year

Total market = 26.5 Millions pax and 5.9 Millions cars

Growth total car market 2.6% at end of august 2008

Norfolkine is progressing (+20%) against other ferry operators (P&O, Seafrance, Speedferries)

Eurotunnel is still progressing and represents 38% of car market

Western Channel has grown 5%

BF’s market share is slightly up – “Value for money”

Still a very competitive market despite huge costs increase !

Freight market was fine until May 2008…

Total market = 4.0 millions lorries

Since May 08, decline of 6.5% of numbers of lorries across Channel

All operators affected including Norfolkline and Eurotunnel

No real warnings signs as growth was still robust until at least February 08

More capacity to come in 2009 with LD Lines bringing 2 new Vincentini vessels...

Trees do not grow to the sky !

Direct lines between UK and Spain quite dynamics

Very small market : 100.000 cars and 7.000 lorries between BF and P&O

Passenger market up 6% on 2007

BF almost doubled the freight market with Cotentin once a week on Poole- Santander :

Main argument avoiding France driving ban

Difficult to operate yearly : Bay of Biscay...

Spain is the land of low costs airlines

Motorway of the seas…

No formal decision following last year proposals by Acciona/ LD Lines and Brittany Ferries following invitation to tender of France and Spain…

Arguments on public financing requirements starting to be heard

Some kind of European coordination also starting

Another invitation to tender between France and Portugal…

Annex VI Marpol might kill it altogether…