Channel crossing deal sees emissions fall

The space charter deal means that P&O Ferries will sail 9,000 times on the English Channel in 2023, down from 16,000 times in 2019, the last comparable year.

The agreement also reduces the time drivers spend waiting at ports, giving them a departure every 36 minutes and reducing gate-to-gate journey times by around 30 minutes.

Peter Hebblethwaite, chief executive of P&O Ferries, said the company plans to eliminate another 40,000 tonnes over the next three years. “The lion’s share of the reduction is attributable to our innovative space charter agreement signed with our competitor DFDS 18 months ago, whereby we make freight space on our Dover-Calais ships available to one another to maintain customer service levels on the route and ensure its continued resilience.”

Other efficiency measures which reduced carbon emissions in 2022 included the fitting of new propellers on an Irish Sea ship, saving 7% of carbon emissions, and changes to the Larne-Cairnryan timetable, which led to 370 fewer sailings in the year and a 3.6% carbon reduction.

Future plans include a hull painting programme and propellor replacement programme. This year P&O Ferries will take delivery of two new 230 metre super-ferries, which will cut fuel use by a reported 40% through a combination of fuel and battery propulsion.