Brittany Ferries says EU climate rules must reflect real-world data after a new study showed methane slip from its LNG-powered ships is far lower than regulatory assumptions. Independent research led by Benoit Sagot of ESTACA, published in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, recorded annual methane slip of 1.57% on SALAMANCA – less than half the 3.5% figure used in EU benchmarks.
CEO Christophe Mathieu said the company supports the polluter-pays principle but warned it must not be penalised for “phantom emissions that exist only on a spreadsheet.” He urged regulators to revise reference data in ETS and FuelEU rules to ensure innovation is recognised and rewarded. Brittany Ferries, which has invested in four LNG-powered ships, contributed to the year-long study with ADEME and is open to follow-up research.
Photo: Brittany Ferries – Brian Barcher
