Portsmouth welcomes new "greener" cross-channel ferry

The UK’s first natural gas powered ferry has arrived in Portsmouth.

Salamanca is Brittany Ferries’ newest and greenest ship, running on liquefied natural gas.

LNG is less polluting and it burns more efficiently than diesel.

Brittany Ferries CEO Christophe Mathieu said: "They are cleaner vessels, significantly cutting air quality emissions like soot and sulphur.

"That’s good news for port partners today, but they could be even greener in the years to come.

"Salamanca is capable of running on future fuels like e-methane or bio-methane if these become available in volume.

"Either has the potential to cut carbon footprint significantly, addition to the cleaner air that LNG-power brings from day one."

Salamanca will make two round trips to Bilbao in Spain each week and will also make a weekly return voyage to Cherbourg in France.

The ferry will enter service on 27 March carrying more than 600 passengers and freight vehicles to Bilbao.

Salamanca’s LNG-powered sister ship Santoña will join the Brittany Ferries' fleet next year sailing between Portsmouth and Santander in Spain.

Two LNG-electric hybrid vessels are next to arrive, criss-crossing the Channel to connect Portsmouth with St Malo and Caen in 2025.

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