New Hybrid Ferries Set to Slash Emissions by 15%
Brittany Ferries is going green at sea with cutting-edge hybrid ships designed to boost energy efficiency and cut greenhouse gases by up to 15%. Thanks to tech from Wärtsilä, these vessels combine real-time energy optimisation with hybrid power and shore-side plug-in capability.
Three New Hybrid Ships Joining the Fleet
StenaRoRo is building three hybrid ferries fitted with Wärtsilä’s latest hybrid technology. Brittany Ferries will get two, including the soon-to-arrive Saint-Malo for the busy St Malo – portsmouth/" title="Portsmouth" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Portsmouth route, launching in 2024. Another unnamed hybrid will tackle the popular Caen-Portsmouth crossing.
These smart new ferries will replace the ageing Bretagne and Normandie, some of the company’s longest-serving ships.
Industry Leaders Pushing Sustainable Shipping
“Brittany Ferries is proud to be leading the way in sustainable shipping, collaborating with our partners to bring cleaner vessels to the regions where we operate,”
said Christophe Mathieu, CEO of Brittany Ferries. He added: “Hybrid technology is advancing our fleet renewal programme and will be followed by the introduction of two LNG-powered ships.”
Ports like St Malo in France and Portsmouth in the UK will benefit from new plug-in infrastructure, letting ferries charge up while docked, reducing emissions even further.
StenaRoRo and Wärtsilä Powering the Green Revolution
“Stena wants to be a leader in decarbonizing our fleet and pushing developments toward zero emission operations,”
said Per Westling, MD of StenaRoRo. “Hybridisation lets our vessels adapt to emerging technologies like green fuels, fuel cells, bigger batteries, plus solar and wind power.”
Wärtsilä is supplying the engines, gearboxes, propellers and massive battery packs that let these ferries operate emission-free in ports, even in rough weather. Shore power plugs keep batteries charged when berthed for true zero-emission operation.
“This order strengthens Wärtsilä’s leadership in the hybrid segment even further,”
said Hakan Agnevall, Wärtsilä CEO. “The large battery capacity lets the vessels use all their thrusters and propellers without emissions for smooth, green manoeuvring.”
