P&O Ferries cut carbon footprint by 9%

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. 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.”

While the bulk of the carbon emission savings were attributable to a space charter agreement with DFDS on the Dover-Calais crossing, P&O Ferries also improved efficiency by fitting new propellers on an Irish Sea ship, which saved 7% of carbon emissions, and by reducing sailings between Larne and Cairnryan. Future sustainability initiatives include a hull painting programme and replacing propellers on other ships. 

The integrated transport and logistics company expects to lower emissions by a further 40,000 tons by 2026 once two new 230-metre hybrid ferries enter service on the Dover-Calais English Channel crossing later in 2023.

The two new ferries will cut fuel use by 40% through a combination of fuel and battery propulsion. Hebblethwaite concluded by promising that “we shall do everything we can to eliminate another 40,000 tons from our operation in the next three years”.