Wightlink announce a new battery-powered ferry

[BayPaul]

https://www.wightlink.co.uk/about-wightlink/new-ferry
Most relevant points from this press release:

We’re drawing up specifications for our next new ferry on the Portsmouth – Fishbourne route. With advances in sustainable technology, we’re looking to commission a new ship that will use electric power from batteries to an even greater extent than at present by Victoria of Wight, already the greenest ferry to serve the Isle of Wight.
Although there are still obstacles to overcome, we hope that shore power can be used to charge batteries, meaning full electric operation can become a reality.

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It takes five years to draw up plans, go out for tenders and build a new ferry to serve the Isle of Wight.
We are already working with our naval architects and technology companies to come up with the best solution to operate ferries with the lowest possible impact on the environment.
Our ultimate aim is to operate England’s first all-electric ferry.

This sounds like a good step forward. Presumably the new ferry would replace St Faith, and give the Fishbourne route 3 large ferries. Based on similar size ferries operating similar length routes in Norway, full electric operation should be feasible, perhaps with backup generators.

 

[Towers]

Interesting. I'm yet to voyage on "Vicky", but it seems that Wightlink are leading the way here. They've been adversely affected I believe by the introduction of Portsmouth's new Clean Air Zone, which charges older HGVs, buses and coaches and taxis to enter an area encompassing the terminal. I wonder whether there may be scope for some form of 'carbon offset' arrangement with a greener fleet, perhaps allowing customers to avoid the CAZ charge in the future?

 

[thejuggler]

Interesting. I'm yet to voyage on "Vicky", but it seems that Wightlink are leading the way here. They've been adversely affected I believe by the introduction of Portsmouth's new Clean Air Zone, which charges older HGVs, buses and coaches and taxis to enter an area encompassing the terminal. I wonder whether there may be scope for some form of 'carbon offset' arrangement with a greener fleet, perhaps allowing customers to avoid the CAZ charge in the future?

A CAZ doesn't work on carbon offsetting, as offsetting doesn't reduce NOX. A CAZ is required because of poor air quality, the charges are introduced to change behaviour, once it is evidenced the behaviour change has lead to a reduction in air quality the charges can be removed.

 

[Towers]

A CAZ doesn't work on carbon offsetting, as offsetting doesn't reduce NOX. A CAZ is required because of poor air quality, the charges are introduced to change behaviour, once it is evidenced the behaviour change has lead to a reduction in air quality the charges can be removed.

That's a fair point. As for 'changes in behaviour', as far as ferry crossings to the Isle of Wight are concerned that is significantly more likely to mean using Red Funnel via Southampton, rather than commercial operators replacing their vehicles specifically because of the Portsmouth CAZ. A sensible direction would have been to reach a suitable arrangement which lessened the CAZ penalty for those vehicles using the ferry service, which must surely be only a small percentage of the total being targetted here.

Future withdrawal of charges is an interesting thought, I'd happily wager that won't happen!