Brittany Ferries’ new LNG-electric hybrid ship, the Saint-Malo, has entered service on the company’s Portsmouth-St Malo route. According to the company, it’s the largest hybrid vessel ever to enter service.
LNG-electric hybrid operations
Saint-Malo will be the fourth new vessel to join the fleet between 2019 and 2025, all part of the biggest fleet renewal program in the company’s history. Like sister ship Guillaume de Normandie, Saint-Malo will be shore-power ready. When infrastructure supports it, it will be plugged into the grid during calls. As well as powering systems on board (meaning engines can be turned off) the grid will also feed batteries, recharging them during layovers.
Onboard experience
The new ship has been designed to present a floating homage to the region, hosting restaurants, art, spacious cabins and a lounge. Thanks to the ship’s flexibility and carefully designed schedules, the company hopes to boost passenger numbers by 41,000 each year.
Saint-Malo will also feature a more spacious garage, wider interior spaces and more comfortable beds than the ship it replaces. Its 10 decks house 387 cabins, 28 of which will be pet-friendly, with a capacity for 1,290 passengers.
In related news, Baleària recently announced that it is to construct two 100% electric zero-emission fast ferries to operate the first green corridor between Spain and Morocco. Click here to read the full story.