New LNG Ferry will be the "Most Environmentally Friendly in British Waters"

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday January 15, 2014

Brittany Ferries' new liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ferry will cost £225 million ($368 million) and will be the largest vessel in the company's fleet, BBC News reports.

The "cruise-ferry," being built by STX France, will be the most environmentally friendly ship in British waters and will mark "a new era" in ferry travel, the company's commercial director, Mike Bevens, said.

"Brittany Ferries and STX France have been co-operating for two years on a study regarding the feasibility of powering a cruise-ferry by liquefied natural gas," he said.

The ship, which will be able to carry nearly 2,500 passengers, will enter service in 2017 and will operate between Portsmouth and Spain.

In an analysis of the deal, BBC correspondent Paul Clifton wrote that the ferry will require new refuelling infrastructure at Portsmouth ferry port.

Clifton wrote that the significant cost of the project will be balanced by the lower operating costs of running the vessel on LNG.

Brittany Ferries said late last month that the ship will use light materials and an efficient hull design, in addition to dual-fuel engines, to reduce its environmental impact.