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High tech slashes P&O Ferries emissions

[ February 28, 2024   //   ]

P&O Ferries says that introduction of a new dedicated Fleet Support Centre for Fuel and Energy Efficiency, alongside the introduction of the new hybrid ferry P&O Pioneer, reduced its vessels’ carbon emissions by almost 50,000 during 2023.

The Support Centre, based at the company’s Dover headquarters, uses SmartShip technology and fuel meters on board each ferry to produce data that can be used to track and reduce fuel and energy consumption. It also gives insight into the impact of different variables such as: the weather, operating system, method of operating the vessel and its schedule.

For example, on the Hull-Rotterdam route, a slight adjustment to the schedule allowed the vessels to keep to a consistent speed and resulted in a fuel reduction of 3.6% ton per leg.

On the Larne-Cairnryan route, the two vessels were showing different fuel consumption despite operating the same route. Deeper analysis of their operating systems and the route showed a 7% decrease in fuel consumption in 2023.

On the Dover-Calais route, the new system allowed P&O Ferries to find the most effective way to operate its new hybrid ferry P&O Pioneer, which uses an advanced system with battery packs that optimises efficiency and significantly reduces emissions.

P&O Pioneer was introduced on the Dover-Calais route in June 2023. The vessel’s hybrid technology and innovative double-ended design cuts fuel use by up to 40% less fuel per crossing compared to our other vessels on the route.

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