Brittany Ferries has begun using shore power for its vessels at Portsmouth International Port, marking the first use of taxpayer-funded net zero infrastructure at one of the UK’s busiest ports. Starting August 3, the ferry operator is connecting its ships to an onshore electricity supply while docked, a move aimed at reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality.

The transition follows several months of negotiations between Brittany Ferries and the port authorities over financial arrangements. Despite the costs of shore power being significantly higher than traditional marine fuel, the company opted to implement the system and has called on the government to provide incentives to offset the added expense.

The shore power infrastructure, part of the Sea Change project, enables ferries and cruise ships to switch off their engines and draw electricity directly from the grid while berthed. Completed late last year, the system had remained unused due to delays in finalizing grid connections and concerns over cost disparities between electricity and marine fuel.

Brittany Ferries’ hybrid ships began utilizing the system starting with the Guillaume de Normandie, which plugged in prior to its 8 a.m. departure on August 3. The agreement for the use of shore power is set to continue for at least 12 months.

Christophe Mathieu, chief executive of Brittany Ferries, described the development as a significant step in leveraging the full capabilities of the company’s environmentally advanced vessels. “We can now realise the full potential of the greenest vessels on the Channel,” he said.

The £24.4 million Sea Change project was funded primarily by government and local authorities, including a £19.8 million grant from the Department for Transport awarded in September 2023, and a £4.6 million contribution from Portsmouth City Council, which owns the port. The initiative aligns with broader efforts to decarbonize maritime transport and reduce pollution in port areas.