P&O Ferries has launched P&O Liberté, the second of a brand new class of vessels, on the key Dover-Calais route between the UK and France.
The new vessel and its sister ship P&O Pioneer are powered by a cleaner, greener hybrid system, reducing carbon emissions by up to 40% compared to older vessels.
“The arrival of our second revolutionary hybrid vessel means we can offer even more of our customers the best travel experience and facilities available on the Channel,” said Peter Hebblethwaite, chief executive, P&O Ferries.
“In the nine months since the first of our new vessels entered service, P&O Pioneer has become a transport icon, contributing to the 135,000 tons of carbon emissions reduced from our operations in the last two years.”
Hybrid approach
The two Fusion-Class vessels represent a GB£250 million investment in UK trade and travel and mean P&O Ferries boast the newest and most technologically advanced ferry fleet on the Channel.
P&O Liberté and P&O Pioneer are the first two vessels in their class and are propelled by a combination of traditional fuel and battery power.
Four diesel generators and an 8.8MWh battery pack comprise a hybrid electric propulsion system that drives four ABB 7.5MW azimuthing podded thrusters to deliver a maximum speed of 22 knots and a service speed of 20.8 knots.
ABB also supplied the vessel’s intelligent manoeuvring and control system.
P&O Pioneer entered service on the Channel crossing in June last year as the world’s largest double-ended hybrid ferry.
Last year more than 3.5 million passengers and nearly 800,000 freight units travelled with P&O Ferries on the Dover-Calais route.
At 230m long and more than 47,000gt, each of the new vessels is expected to carry out more than 100,000 crossings of the Channel during its lifetime.
P&O Ferries announced last month it had cut almost 50,000 tonnes of carbon emissions from its operation in 2023. This followed a reduction of more than 85,000 tonnes in 2022.
