Electric-hybrid ferry prepares for inaugural journey from Portsmouth
The Brittany Ferries ship is fuelled by natural gas, and can plug into shoreside power
The largest ever electric-hybrid ship owned by Brittany Ferries will enter service tonight (12th February).
The Saint-Malo is the first of the company's two new vessels, powered by natural gas, and will able to plug into shoreside power when it's introduced at Portsmouth International Port.
She will set sail to the city of Saint-Malo at 8.16pm.
Brittany Ferries says introducing two new electric-hybrid ships will reduce emissions by 25 percent, compared to diesel vessels.
Nigel Wannacott, from Brittany Ferries, told Cool FM: "It will run on pure electric power coming in and out of Portsmouth.
"It will run on a combination of electricity and gas at sea, and that means it's going to be a far better neighbour to everybody who lives and works around the port of Portsmouth.
"Soot, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur are the things that are really bad for people's health.
"If you've got a respiratory problem, you don't want to see lots of smoke coming out of a ship's tunnel, because that makes the air quality worse.
"Liquified natural gas ships are really important because they make the air cleaner."
The company says Saint-Malo, which cost £100million to build, has more spacious areas than the ship she replaces, and more comfortable beds.
1,290 passengers can travel on board.