English Channel ferry crossings just got greener

The P&O Pioneer is en route to its home port of Dover UK, where it is expected to go into operation on the English Channel in May 2023.

“The delivery of P&O Pioneer is an important step for P&O Ferries and one that will bring advanced sustainable technology to the Dover-Calais crossing,” said Peter Hebblethwaite, CEO of P&O Ferries.

“Last summer we carried more than one million passengers on this route and are looking forward to an exciting summer ahead with the first of our two new ships.”

Terminal network

The vessel’s first trip to its new home has been aided by DP World’s vast global network of terminals, allowing it to be fully serviced along the way by various specialist teams from within the global firm’s group of companies.

Pioneer has been called the world’s largest double-ended hybrid ferry with two bridges, which means there is no need for it to turn around in ports, saving fuel on every round trip.

The Fusion Class vessel allows P&O Ferries to cut fuel use on each crossing, as it is propelled by a combination of fuel and battery power. 

Reductions in fuel use and emissions are delivered by the hybrid system, which allows the Pioneer to operate from its energy storage system while manoeuvring or in port.

It is designed to have the capacity to become fully carbon neutral in the future because current generators on the vessel can be removed and replaced with batteries.

The P&O Pioneer is the first of two identical purpose-built Fusion Class sister-ships ordered for the Dover to Calais route, both of which have been registered in Cyprus.

The second ship, P&O Liberte, is expected to join service towards the end of 2023.