P&O Ferries takes delivery of battery-hybrid P&O Pioneer

Double-ender P&O Pioneer has electric-hybrid propulsion and was delivered by Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China and designed by OSK-ShipTech in Denmark. 

The 47,394-gt ferry will be able to carry 1,500 passengers and has 3,600 freight lane metres. 

The batteries, provided by XALT Energy, have a capacity of up to 8.8 MWh and will be recharged by four Wärtsilä diesel engines during passage. Four ABB azipod thrusters also form part of the propulsion package of the vessel.

P&O Ferries said on its LinkedIn page: “2023 also welcomes lots of positive environmental changes, as we are soon to add two new super ferries on the English Channel. The new ships will cut fuel use by 40% through a combination of fuel and battery propulsion – making them the most sustainable ferries ever to sail on the English Channel.”

P&O also referenced its space charter deal with DFDS, which means the ferry operator will sail 9,000 times on the English Channel in 2023, down from 16,000 times in 2019, the last comparable year.

P&O Pioneer will be followed by the delivery of P&O Liberte by the end of this year.