SPIRIT OF FRANCE © Marc Ottini

P&O Ferries cuts carbon emissions by 85,000 tonnes through maximising efficiency of sailings

FerryP&O Ferries reduced its carbon footprint by 85,000 tonnes as it took advantage of new partnerships to sail less frequently and maximise the efficiency of its operations.

This best-ever sustainability performance for the company – which amounts to a 9 % carbon reduction – came as it planned to welcome two new 230-metre double-ended ferries this year, the most sustainable ships ever to sail on the English Channel, which will result in further carbon emissions reductions this year.

Peter Hebblethwaite, Chief Executive of P&O Ferries, said: “I am delighted that we have made outstanding progress in reducing our carbon footprint in 2022 and can promise that we shall do everything we can to eliminate another 40,000 tons from our operation in 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.”

“We are determined to make P&O Ferries the best ferry company in Europe. That means: the best ships, the best routes and the best value for tourist and freight customers. I can assure everyone that a vital part of our plan for the future is reducing carbon emissions in cargo and logistics supply chains.”

The space charter agreement with DFDS 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 the ports, giving them access to a departure every 36 minutes and reducing gate-to-gate journey times by an estimated 30 minutes.

Other efficiency measures which reduced carbon emissions in 2022 included the fitting of new propellers on an Irish Sea ship, which saved 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 sustainability initiatives include a hull painting programme and replacing propellers on other ships.

This year P&O Ferries will take delivery of two new ferries, which will cut fuel use by 40 per cent through a combination of fuel and battery propulsion.