Lauded by bosses at the controversial ferry operator as “the most sustainable ships ever to sail on the English Channel,” P&O will run the battery-laden ships on diesel when they are delivered later this year.Sign up to receive daily headline news from Ottawa Citizen, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
“The ship is designed with the capacity to be carbon neutral in the future on the twin assumptions that there are more electric shore charging stations in ports and batteries,” the company said.Article content Named Pioneer and Liberte, the two ships will replace P&O’s older fleet and are double-headed, saving time when loading and unloading by virtue of not having to turn around in port.
P&O also insisted that towing on-board electric batteries across the English Channel would not result in a larger carbon footprint.