P&O Ferries takes delivery of new Dover to Calais ferry

By: Steven Tarbox
Date:
Last updated:
P&O PIONEER at sea. CSSC
P&O PIONEER at sea. CSSC

Update 03.03.23 (PM): P&O PIONEER began her delivery voyage earlier today, leaving Nansha at around 18:00 (UTC+8). Her first stop will be Singapore where she is expected to arrive on 8 March.

Dover-based P&O Ferries took delivery of the first of two brand new “fusion class” ferries for its Dover – Calais route yesterday, 28 February.  P&O PIONEER, which was built by Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China, is expected to leave for the UK soon.  

P&O PIONEER is designed to accommodate 1,500 passengers and has over 10,000 square metres of passenger space.  One of the standout features is the large glass areas either side of the ship. These span two full decks, flooding the passenger spaces with natural light.  The new ferry is expected to enter service on the Calais service ahead of the summer season.

The foodcourt on P&O PIONEER is flooded with natural light from the double-height wall of glass either side of the vessel. P&O Ferries.
The foodcourt on P&O PIONEER is flooded with natural light from the double-height wall of glass on either side of the vessel. P&O Ferries.

At present, P&O PIONEER is the world’s largest double-ended ferry, and carries one of the largest battery installations ever fitted to a ship.  In a first for cross-channel service, the vessel has been designed without the need to turn around in port, saving time and fuel. 

40% Less Fuel

P&O Ferries intends that P&O PIONEER will operate entirely on battery power when manoeuvring in port.  The batteries, which have a capacity of up to 8.8 megawatt hours, will be recharged by the ferry’s four Wärtsilä diesel engines during passage.  P&O Ferries estimates that in service P&O PIONEER will use 40% less fuel than its existing cross channel ferries.  

However, P&O PIONEER has been designed to be converted to plug-in all battery operation once charging facilities become available in Dover and Calais.  This would eliminate the need for the four main engines, which would be replaced with more battery packs, and make the vessel zero-emission.

Outside deck space is provided at both ends of P&O Ferries' P&O PIONEER.  The Club Class Lounge, Drivers Lounge, and Pet Lounge all have their own directly accessed outside deck spaces on Deck 9.  Image: CSSC.
Outside deck space is provided at both ends of P&O Ferries’ P&O PIONEER. The Club Class Lounge, Drivers Lounge, and Pet Lounge all have their own directly accessed outside deck spaces on Deck 9. Image: CSSC.

In another first for an English channel ferry, propulsion will be provided by four ABB-supplied electrically powered azipods.   These should give the vessel unrivalled manoeuvrability and remove the need for bow or stern thrusters and rudders as each pod can be independently rotated 360 degrees.  P&O PIONEER will also be the first Dover – Calais ferry to be fitted with two pairs of stabiliser fins, with a different pair being deployed depending on the direction of travel.

Later this year, P&O Ferries is expected to take delivery of P&O PIONEER’s sister-ship, P&O LIBERTE.  The pair represent an investment of €260m by the Dubai-owned but Dover-based company and will replace PRIDE OF CANTERBURY and PRIDE OF KENT in service.

P&O Ferries is expected to dispose of the PRIDE OF CANTERBURY, PRIDE OF KENT and already idle PRIDE OF BURGUNDY.

P&O Pioneer At A Glance

NameP&O Pioneer
IMO Number9895161
Route Dover [GB] – Calas [FR]
ShipyardGuangzhou Shipyard International (CSSC Group), China
Delivery (for introduction to service during 2023)2023
Concept DesignOSK-Shiptech (Denmark) and P&O Ferries (United Kingdom)
Interior Architecture & DesignSteen Friis Design (Denmark) / dSign Vertti & Kivi (Finland)
Interior OutfittingNorth Sea Offshore (China)
Length230.5 m 
Breadth30.8m
Gross Tonnage47,394 gt
Main Engines4 x Wärtsilä 16v31 Marine Diesel Engines fitted with ABB turbochargers and Wärtsilä AI technology
Propulsion4 x 7.5MW ABB DO1600 Azipods
Fuel Ultra low sulphur fuel oil and the recovered electrical energy stored in the onboard batteries (8.8MWh capacity).  Provision has been made for future upgrading to “carbon neutral” battery only operation should shoreside facilities capable of charging sufficient batteries during the short turnaround period become available at Dover and Calais.
Service Speed20.8 kts
Passenger Capacity1,500 passengers
Passengers are accommodated on decks 8 and 9
Vehicle CapacityUp to 2,800lm for commercial vehicles plus 200 cars or small vans.  
Total of 3,600lm including both freight decks and the reduced height car deck.
FlagCyprus

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