Saint-Malo (hybrid ferry)

2022: Electric powered vessel begins carrying passengers

On June 21, 2022, information appeared that the world's largest electric-powered ship was starting to carry passengers between the UK and France. The board will be the largest hybrid vessel ever built.

Brittany Ferries reported that the capacity of the vessel's batteries in Saint-Malo will be 11.5 MVt·ch. This, according to the developers, is about double what is usually used for hybrid propulsion systems on sea vessels.

World's largest electric-powered ship begins carrying passengers

The idea behind hybrid ships is that they can run on liquefied natural gas, batteries or a combination of both. Maritime transport does not differ from other types of movement in that it has a significant impact on the environment, the developers added. Brittany Ferries reported that a total of three hybrid vessels are being built by Stena RoRo using the hybrid technology of the Finnish company Wartsila.

{{quote 'Large battery size will allow ships to operate at full power, using both propellers and all propulsors to maneuver without emitting harmful substances to and from ports, even in bad weather. Switching to electric propulsion can be much more cost-effective than even switching to liquefied natural gas, "said Wartsila CEO Hakan Agnevall. }} The vessels represent a significant source of oil consumption and emissions in the European Union (EU), according to Transport & Environment, a group of companies headquartered in Brussels. Citing an analysis of Eurostat data, T&E adds that shipping in the EU consumed 12.2% of all transport fuel in 2019. International shipping accounted for about 2% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in 2020, according to the International Energy power.^[1]

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