Brittany Ferries to start plugging ships into electricity at Portsmouth despite rise in costs
The government was urged to incentivise the additional expense
Ferries will belatedly start using taxpayer-funded net zero infrastructure at Portsmouth International Port from Monday.
Brittany Ferries announced it will plug in its ships to an electricity supply during turnarounds at the port despite this costing more than burning marine fuel.
This follows “months of negotiation” to strike a deal with the port over financial terms, the operator said, as it urged the government to incentivise the additional expense.
The shore power system was built to enable ferries and cruise ships to switch off their engines and plug into electricity when berthed, to cut carbon emissions and boost air quality.
The port completed its work on the project late last year but no vessels have been using the infrastructure, because electricity is several times more expensive than marine fuel and completing the connection to the grid was delayed.
Brittany Ferries’ two hybrid ships will plug in from Monday, starting with Guillaume de Normandie ahead of its 8am departure. The deal to use shore power lasts for at least the next 12 months.
Christophe Mathieu, chief executive of Brittany Ferries, said: “This is a huge milestone for our business, and one that we’ve reached thanks to a team effort by all partners involved.
“It means we can now realise the full potential of the greenest vessels on the Channel.
“We’re better neighbours to those living and working in Portsmouth, and we’re leading the sector on sustainability.
“But this doesn’t come without a cost. We’re urging the new Government to consider tax breaks to offset the additional expense of plugging-in while alongside.
“Without that support, the lead taken by Portsmouth International Port and Brittany Ferries is unlikely to be followed by others in the drive to net zero.”
The Sea Change project to enable ships to plug in at the port was funded by £19.8 million from the Department for Transport in September 2023, under the Conservative government, and £4.6 million from Portsmouth City Council, which owns the port.
In February, Mike Sellers, the port’s director, warned the system “could be a redundant asset” as it lay dormant.
Ahead of the start of its use on Monday, he said: “This is a huge moment not only for us, but also for the UK ports industry as a whole, as we are now the country’s first port to offer multi-berth, multi-user shore power.
“The clean electricity will have a big benefit to air quality in the city, and it also helps to future-proof Portsmouth Port, aligning us with international moves towards electrification for all of our customers, meaning we can continue to be profitable and provide for essential services in the city.”