The P&O Pioneer is a hybrid roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) English Channel ferry operated by P&O Ferries. It is the largest double-ended hybrid ferry in the world and one of the eco-friendliest ferries in operation.

The Pioneer was built in China and entered commercial service between Dover and Calais in June 2023. The vessel is forecasted to deliver a 40% reduction in carbon emissions on the Dover-Calais route from its first day in service.

The vessel is propelled by a combination of fuel and battery power. The hybrid system allows Pioneer to operate from its Energy Storage System while manoeuvring or in port and is designed to have the capacity to become fully carbon neutral in the future.

The modular design of the ship allows for modifications to welcome developing technology and as more charging stations are brought in at ports, current generators on the vessel can be removed and replaced with batteries.

The ship is 230.5 meters long, 30.8 meters wide, and has a service speed of 20.8 knots. It has a gross tonnage of 47,394 and a capacity for 1,350 passengers, 150 crewmembers, and up to 3,600 lane meters of freight with 800 lane meters allotted for passenger-driven vehicles. There are 4 battery rooms on board the ship, equipped with a total of 1,160 large-capacity batteries, and the battery shipment capacity reaches 8.8MWh.

There are two charging modes for the battery, one is to use the power supply on the dock to charge, that is, to complete the charging when the ship is docked at the dock for passenger and cargo loading; the other is to use the generator on the ship to charge while the ship is sailing.

The P&O Pioneer is a significant investment in the future of English Channel travel. It is a more efficient and environmentally friendly ferry that will provide passengers with a more comfortable and enjoyable journey.

According to the Internet