Feature, Freight News, Sea


Saint-Malo electrifies Portsmouth

[ January 15, 2025   //   ]

Brittany Ferries new LNG-electric hybrid ship Saint-Malo called at Portsmouth for the first time, arriving and departing on pure battery power.

The ship’s first commercial voyage to St Malo will take place on 12 February – the first call was to carry out ramp trials in Portsmouth International Port and other tests.

Brittany Ferries chief executive Christophe Mathieu said: “Residents and port partners will certainly have heard and seen her first arrival, thanks to water-cannon and welcoming fog horns. But they won’t have seen anything untoward from her funnel. That’s because she ran in and out of the harbour on pure electric power – and will continue to do so as she serves Portsmouth in the years to come.”

Saint-Malo is the fourth new vessel to join the Brittany Ferries’ fleet since 2019 as part of the largest fleet renewal programme in the company’s 52-year history.

She is also the biggest hybrid vessel ever to enter service – with the largest battery pack.

Sister ship Guillaume de Normandie is due to arrive in March and, like Saint-Malo will be shore-power capable.

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