P&O Ferries cut its carbon footprint by 85,000 tons, or 9%, leveraging new partnerships to sail less frequently and maximise the efficiency of its operations.
The news come as the company plans to welcome two new 230-metre super-ferries this year, which will result in further carbon emissions reductions this year.
Future sustainability initiatives include a hull painting programme and replacing propellers on other ships. This year P&O Ferries will take delivery of two new super-ferries, which will cut fuel use by 40% through a combination of fuel and battery propulsion.
I am delighted that we have made outstanding progress in reducing our carbon footprint in 2022 and can promise that we shall do everything we can to eliminate another 40,000 tons from our operation in the next three years
said Peter Hebblethwaite, Chief Executive of P&O Ferries.
What is more, Mr. Hebblethwaite added that a space charter agreement with DFDS, will mean that P&O Ferries will sail 9,000 times on the English Channel in 2023, down from 16,000 times in 2019, the last comparable year.
This agreement also reduces the time drivers spend waiting at the ports, giving them access to a departure every 36 minutes and reducing gate-togate journey times by an estimated 30 minutes.
Other efficiency measures which reduced carbon emissions in 2022 included the fitting of new propellers on an Irish Sea ship, which saved 7% of carbon emissions, and changes to the Larne-Cairnryan timetable, which led to 370 fewer sailings in the year and a 3.6% carbon reduction.
