Are ferry companies working on minimising CO2 emissions?
Ferry companies see shipping as part of the solution to the issue of reducing emissions of the global warming gas carbon dioxide. This is because shipping produces fewer greenhouse gases per tonne-mile than other forms of transport, as ships need relatively little energy to push huge loads through the water that supports them. Most ships do not carry just leisure travellers and are either multi-purpose, carrying freight goods and tourists, or dedicated freight ferries carrying only goods vehicles and containers. With 90% of the UK’s trade by sea, it is not surprising that freight comprises the vast majority of the payloads carried. For example, on an average day, six ships on the Dover – Calais service carry in the region of 160,000 tonnes of freight. A fuel-thirsty jumbo jet struggles with a payload much over 100 tonnes. Also, the medium speed engines in our fleet of conventional ferries are extremely efficient. Even excess heat they produce is put to good use, for hot water, pre-heat
