P&O PIONEER on sea trials © GSI

First of P&O Ferries two new double-ended giants for its Dover-Calais service has been out on sea trials

FerryThe first of P&O Ferries giant double-enders for its Dover-Calais service has been out on sea trials. The 47,394 gt P&O PIONEER is expected to enter service in Q1 2023, while its sister P&O LIBERTÈ will follow in Q4. Both are being built at China's GSI Shipyard.

Designed by Denmark’s OSK ShipTech, the 230.5m x 30.8m ro-paxes will be able to carry 1,500 passengers and 2,658 lanemetres of freight.

Both vessels will be the largest ferries ever to operate between Dover and Calais and their double-ender design will ensure faster turnaround times at both ports, as they will feature two main bridges at either end of each vessel.

Both vessels are being built at a cost of GBP 220 million, and P&O Ferries has an option with Guangzhou Shipyard International on a further two vessels.

P&O PIONEER and P&O LIBERTÈ will feature a diesel-battery hybrid propulsion system, comprising four Wärtsilä 16V31 diesel engines, each driving a ABB Azipod DO1600 podded propulsion unit, and 8.8 MWh batteries provided by the Freundenberg Group’s subsidiary XALT Energy. Each ferry will have a service speed of 20.8 knots.

nov 29 2022