P&O Ferries has taken delivery of the world’s largest double-ended ferry from Guangzhou Shipyard International, China. P O PIONEER is the first of the two Fusion Class ferries that P&O had ordered. Together with the yet-to-be-delivered “P&O Liberte,” these vessels will ply the route between England, Dover, Calais, and France.
The ships will set a precedent for size, luxury, and hybrid power in the shipping industry. They are 47,394 gross tons and 756 feet in length, with two 7500kw Azipod thrusters on each end that allow them to operate at a maximum speed of 20.8 knots.
P O PIONEER can carry 1,500 passengers and have more than 100,000 square feet of space for travelers, as well as room for 700 vehicles. Amenities include restaurants, bars, gyms, relaxation and entertainment areas, and a children’s area.
Since a double-ended ferry does not need to be turned around at each terminus, it saves 7 minutes of travel time and 1 tonne of fuel. The ships boast features such as the ability to cut emissions by 40% through a combination of fuel and battery propulsion, and a waste heat recovery system.
The ships have a total of four rooms for storing batteries. These can store a total of 1,160 large-scale batteries with a maximum storage capacity of 8.8 MW. The ships recharge the batteries using shore power or by using excess power from the shaft generators.
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