Brittany Ferries’ Saint-Malo will be the largest hybrid-vessel ever built

June 23, 2022

Brittany Ferries SAINT-MALO will be the world’s largest hybrid ship, when she joins the fleet in 2024. Her batteries will boast a capacity of 11.5 MWh, approximately double that typically used for hybrid propulsion in marine vessels.

To improve efficiency further, she will integrate multiple systems allowing real-time, energy optimisation while sailing. Optimised energy efficiency, hybrid power and shore-side plug-in has the potential to yield an improvement of up to 15% on greenhouse gas emissions compared with diesel propulsion – according to engine and battery supplier Wärtsilä

In total, StenaRoRo are constructing three hybrid ships, supplied with Wärtsilä hybrid technology. Two were specified by Brittany Ferries, with recently named SAINT-MALO (destined for the St Malo – Portsmouth route) scheduled for delivery in 2024. Shortly thereafter, an as-yet-unnamed hybrid will join the fleet, running the company’s most popular Caen-Portsmouth route.

The hybrids will replace BRETAGNE and NORMANDIE respectively, two of the longest serving vessels in the family.

Source: Brittany Ferries