Order placed for largest gas-fuelled ferry

The two companies have been cooperating for some two years on a feasibility study for LNG as fuel, and it was suggested in December 2013 that an order for a large gas-fuelled ship was about to be placed.

The €270 million, 52,500gt ro-pax vessel will be 210m in length, 32m wide, with capacity for 2,474 passengers in 675 cabins. LNG will be the primary fuel, with capability of running on MGO as a back-up.

Mike Bevens, group commercial director, Brittany Ferries, said: “This represents a huge investment which will benefit not simply our customers but the environment as well. This addition to our fleet will be no exception, but will incorporate all the best features of our other vessels so as to provide our customers with a truly exceptional experience. No other ferry in the UK will come close to offering this new ship’s range of facilities and its launch will mark the beginning of a new era in ferry travel.”

According to Brittany Ferries, the new ship, yet to be named, will emit about 25% less CO2 than its other vessels, with virtually no sulphur or nitrogen emissions and no smoke. The company says it will be the cleanest, most environmentally-friendly ship to operate in UK waters.

It will operate on the longer routes between UK and Spain, currently handled by the Pont-Aven, which will move to the Portsmouth-St Malo route currently operated by the Bretagne, which, as the oldest ship in the Brittany Ferries fleet, will leave the operator’s regular service.

Further details of the propulsion plant and bunkering arrangements have not yet been released.