M/V Coutances

In 1976, Truckline decided to renew the fleet it was operating on its route, linking Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and Poole. Therefore, it ordered two sister-ships to a French shipyard. Coutances is one of them. Coutances was delivered in 1978, and allocated to the Cherbourg-en-Cotentin – Poole service.

In September 1980, due to a fault of one of her engines, Coutances collided with Poole’s link span. Until repairs were made, she hence had to be operated from Weymouth, since she only suffered minor damages.

Following Truckline’ purchase by Brittany Ferries, in 1985, it was decided to lengthen Coutances in January 1986 by 15.62m in order to increase her capacity to cope with the growing traffic on the route she was serving. Hence, her lorry capacity was increased by 34%.

During the 80s, Coutances has operated several sailings between Ouistreham and Portsmouth, and she has also performed crossings on the Roscoff – Plymouth and Plymouth – Santander routes.

Coutances was eventually repainted to Brittany Ferries’ colours in 2004 during a refurbishment in Gdansk. She lost during this refurbishment her former Brittany Ferries Truckline livery, and became the first ship of Brittany Ferries to wear the new logo, although she was initially to be replaced with the introduction of Pont-Aven.

From 2007, after the introduction of Cotentin that eventually replaced her, Coutances had been allocated on the Ouistreham – Portsmouth service. She sailed for the last time with Brittany Ferries on 1st May 2008, with a Cherbourg-en-Cotentin – Poole crossing. Sold in June to Conferries, she was renamed Outances on 23rd July.

Registered in September 2008 in Pampatar, she set sail to South America and was renamed Rosa Eugenia.