P&O new Ferries Pioneer and Liberty

[Snow1964]

Not been a great fan of P&O ferries actions last year, and don't want to go off topic on that thread.

They must still have plenty of people travelling as introducing two new ferries on Dover-Calais this year, which are double ended (navigation bridge both ends) to replace Pride of Canterbury, Pride of Burgandy and Pride of Kent. (2 ships seem to be replacing 3)

P&O Pioneer | P&O Ferries’ ground breaking new Dover to Calais ferry - niferry.co.uk

Your guide to P&O Pioneer, P&O Ferroes' new Dover - Calais ferry. P&O Pioneer will be introduced on the route ahead of summer 2023.

www.niferry.co.uk

P&O PIONEER is a P&O Ferries operated Ro-Pax ferry which serves the Calais – Dover route. At the time of her delivery she was the worlds largest double-ended ferry. P&O PIONEER is notable as the first double-ended ferry to be deployed on English Channel services and also the first diesel-electric hybrid. As a result of being a double-ended ferry, P&O PIONEER has a distinctive symmetrical appearance.

The double-ended design means that the ship does not need to turn 180 degrees in port as is the case with all previous Dover – Calais ferries. This saves both time and fuel. P&O Ferries claim that P&O PIONEER will consume 40% less fuel than previous Dover Strait ferries. As there is no shore power available at Dover or Calais, P&O PIONEER‘s batteries are charged using the onboard Diesel engines when at sea. As-built, battery only operation will only take place when manoeuvring in port. The ships have been designed to be upgraded to full battery-electric operation once charging facilities become available.

P&O PIONEER is the first of two identical purpose-built “Fusion Class” sister-ships ordered for the Dover – Calais route. The second ship, P&O LIBERTÉ, is expected to join P&O PIONEER in service towards the end of 2023. At the time of ordering P&O PIONEER and P&O LIBERTÉ, P&O Ferries also agreed two options with the shipyard but has not (yet?) exercised these.

Apparantly built at Guangzhou, China
47,394 tonnes
2800 lane metres of capacity for commercial and 800 lane metres for cars (3600m total)

Seems to me if average car is about 4.5m long, it is effectively a freight ferry with space for about 170 cars, (although of course could always park extra cars on lorry space). Is this a reflection of P&O ferries (lack of) popularity with the public following the mass sackings

 

[Alfonso]

Not been a great fan of P&O ferries actions last year, and don't want to go off topic on that thread.

They must still have plenty of people travelling as introducing two new ferries on Dover-Calais this year, which are double ended (navigation bridge both ends) to replace Pride of Canterbury, Pride of Burgandy and Pride of Kent. (2 ships seem to be replacing 3)

P&O Pioneer | P&O Ferries’ ground breaking new Dover to Calais ferry - niferry.co.uk

Your guide to P&O Pioneer, P&O Ferroes' new Dover - Calais ferry. P&O Pioneer will be introduced on the route ahead of summer 2023.

www.niferry.co.uk

Apparantly built at Guangzhou, China
47,394 tonnes
2800 lane metres of capacity for commercial and 800 lane metres for cars (3600m total)

Seems to me if average car is about 4.5m long, it is effectively a freight ferry with space for about 170 cars, (although of course could always park extra cars on lorry space). Is this a reflection of P&O ferries (lack of) popularity with the public following the mass sackings

I'd guess the commercial space could be used for cars but the car space can't be used for commercial as it's probably smaller, possibly mezzanine type deck. Also important to remember that freight traffic is what the whole business model is built on...customers crossing over and over again, not people popping over on e or twice a year on holiday

 

[Ediswan]

I'd guess the commercial space could be used for cars but the car space can't be used for commercial as it's probably smaller, possibly mezzanine type deck.

Putting some non-commericial vehicles in freight lanes is standard practice. Especially anything which counts as a 'high vehicle': motorhomes, SUVs with roofboxes, cars with bicycles/kayays etc. etc. P&O currently ask if a vehicle is over 1.80 m high. As many high lanes as needed are used for this. I don't recall being mixed with trucks in the same lane.

 

[Cloud Strife]

I don't recall being mixed with trucks in the same lane.

This was/is common practice elsewhere however. I've lost count of the amount of Jadrolinija ferries that I've taken where the car has been placed in front of a truck.

But with P&O, they won't have to do it, because there's more than enough freight to fill the ferries with, especially if they go from 5 to 4.

It is a surprise that it's taken so long to see genuine double-ended ferries on this route for freight purposes. I suppose the fact that the Pride of... ferries were purpose built for the route stopped the introduction of alternative ferries.

Either way, it should give P&O an advantage commercially.

 

[Gloster]

Unless the sacking of the employees was planned several years ago and there was an expectation of a long-term fall in passenger numbers, I doubt that this was a consideration when ordering the ships as they aren’t built overnight (just under five days is the record). It is a bit of a surprise that they haven’t gone as far as installing recharging facilities at the ports: it does give the impression of paying lip-service to environmental concerns.

Regarding the headline: using the word groundbreaking in connection with ships does strike me as an unfortunate choice. Normally it is called bad navigation.

 

[Ediswan]

It is a bit of a surprise that they haven’t gone as far as installing recharging facilities at the ports: it does give the impression of paying lip-service to environmental concerns.

I am not surprised that P&O have not waited for that. It could take years to implement. The UK end is liable to get bogged down in planning permission.

At present, all the ferries appear to get their fuel from Duzgit Harmony rather than port facilities.

 

[Trainbike46]

Not been a great fan of P&O ferries actions last year, and don't want to go off topic on that thread.

They must still have plenty of people travelling as introducing two new ferries on Dover-Calais this year, which are double ended (navigation bridge both ends) to replace Pride of Canterbury, Pride of Burgandy and Pride of Kent. (2 ships seem to be replacing 3)

P&O Pioneer | P&O Ferries’ ground breaking new Dover to Calais ferry - niferry.co.uk

Your guide to P&O Pioneer, P&O Ferroes' new Dover - Calais ferry. P&O Pioneer will be introduced on the route ahead of summer 2023.

www.niferry.co.uk

Apparantly built at Guangzhou, China
47,394 tonnes
2800 lane metres of capacity for commercial and 800 lane metres for cars (3600m total)

Seems to me if average car is about 4.5m long, it is effectively a freight ferry with space for about 170 cars, (although of course could always park extra cars on lorry space). Is this a reflection of P&O ferries (lack of) popularity with the public following the mass sackings

I am pretty sure this ferry was on order well before the events of last year, so I wouldn't expect the design to be influenced by them

 

[Egg Centric]

Dunno about freight but for holidaymakers P&O tends to attract the most price conscious travellers as the other companies offerings are better. Much like Mexican battery eggs I doubt the treatment of their staff will be putting that market off.