The two 195-metre long hybrid E-Flexer ferries (SAINT-MALO and a not-yet named unit) have been designed and developed by Stena RoRo in collaboration with Brittany Ferries and will be chartered on a 10-year lease to Brittany Ferries for operation between Portsmouth, United Kingdom, and the French ports of Saint-Malo and Caen. They will be delivered in 2024 and 2025.

The vessels’ hybrid propulsion system will be capable of operation using both liquified natural gas (LNG) fuel and Leclanché’s third generation, Navius MRS-3^TM onboard battery storage system, helping to greatly reduce the environmental impact of ferries and improving sustainability.

Building on the investments made over the past 4 years in technology, product and market development, the Navius MRS-3 ^TM uses Leclanché’s state-of-the-art 3^rd generation lithium-ion battery systems, each with a capacity of 11.3 MWh and a maximum of 940 volts. The system is guaranteed for 10 years of continuous operation and is the result of several years of real-life operation and optimisation. The Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) use a highly redundant structure with 46 battery strings. 

“Stena is a leader in the development of technologically advanced vessels and an early participant in the green shipping transition,” said Staffan Stenfelt, General Manager Newbuilding at Stena RoRo. “We’re excited to partner with Leclanché in this major milestone in hybridisation technology and demonstrate the importance of flexibility in building next generation vessels that can adapt to the latest technology developments.”

“Brittany Ferries is committed to supporting – and help lead – the decarbonisation efforts of the maritime industry,” added Arnaud Le Poulichet, Director Engineering and Maintenance at Brittany Ferries. “Every vessel we invest in will pay dividends for the environment in the short-and-long term. We are proud to be supporting this green planetary agenda in a meaningful way.”

Phil Broad, CEO of Leclanché E-Mobility, said: “We are delighted to join in the efforts of both Stena RoRo and Brittany Ferries in favour of the decarbonisation of maritime transport. These latest project wins further emphasise Leclanché’s leadership position in the electrification and hybridisation of large vessels. In addition, these projects will strengthen our order book and our own production capacity, reinforcing the Company’s positive outlook. One of the main mission of Leclanché is to support manufacturers in their e-mobility projects by providing them with the most suitable and powerful battery systems on the market. The benefits of our differentiated cell technology and liquid-cooled system were key factors in our nomination. Another main competitive asset, the system design provides a distinct size and weight advantage versus our competitors and is especially cost-effective for large-scale systems such as those being manufactured for Brittany Ferries.”

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