On 14 January 2005, the Portsmouth-Cherbourg service was closed down and the Pride of Cherbourg was returned to its owners Irish Continental Group and later became Kaitaki for New Zealands Interislander.
The closure of the Portsmouth-Cherbourg ferry route on 14 January 2005 led to the return of the Pride of Cherbourg to its original owner, Irish Continental Group, which later rebranded it as Kaitaki for Interislander's services in New Zealand.