Artist's impression of P&O Ferries' double-enders for Dover-Calais service. © P&O Ferries

P&O Ferries ordered two hybrid-electric double-enders at GSI in late September 2019. The contract is worth EUR 260 million with the 230m long vessels slated for delivery in 2023.

Designed by OSK-ShipTech, the 1,500-passenger capacity ro-pax ferries will be the largest ever to sail on the 90-minute Dover-Calais route, yet the capacity of the vehicle decks will be similar to that of the Spirit Class sister ships which each have an intake of 2,741 lanemetres on two decks and 194 cars on a separate upper car deck.

Fuel consumption and carbon footprint will be drastically reduced thanks to a combination of fuel and battery propulsion and a heat recovery system. Large battery packs below the main deck will be charged by peak shaving. The ships are futureproofed to become carbon-neutral, providing extra battery capacity will be installed and plug-in facilities are available in both Dover and Calais.

The lay-out of the passenger accommodation on decks 8 and 9 is extremely 'flexible' with up to two-thirds of the passenger facilities that can be closed. A power management system will use innovative software to turn off the lighting and ventilation in empty areas, further optimising the utilisation of engines, batteries and energy recovered from waste heat.

© Shippax / Philippe Holthof