‘Hugely significant’ new ferry flies the flag for low emission transport
Promising a combination of environmental benefits and cost savings, the MV Alfred is an impressive new addition to Scotland’s modest fleet of lower carbon vessels. By Andrew Collier
LAST month, in the choppy waters separating the Scottish mainland from Orkney, a quiet revolution took place. The country’s most environmentally friendly ferry, the MV Alfred, entered service on the route across the
Pentland Firth.
The vessel, now sailing regularly between Gills Bay in Caithness and the island terminal at St Margaret’s Hope reduces carbon emissions by using an ingenious electric-based system.
A wind turbine feeds power to the ferry when it is berthed overnight while also supplying electricity to the Orkney offices and shore base of the operator, the family-owned Pentland Ferries.
The £14 million vessel, which can carry 430 passengers, 54 cars and 12 articulated vehicles or coaches, uses 65% per cent less power than its traditional equivalent, though propulsion is still provided by diesel engines.
The ferry company has described the arrival and operation of its new asset as
“hugely significant”. The company’s managing director, Andrew Banks, said: “Our green credentials are very important to us, so we are proud to be introducing a vessel that is particularly low in terms of fuel consumption and emission levels. These efficiencies sit at the centre of a much wider energy efficient drive by Pentland Ferries which includes reducing waste, using low energy lighting, recycling and switching to wind power wherever possible.”
He continued: “We know that visitors coming to our islands look for service and facilities of the very highest possible standard. Increasingly, they are looking for a service which has the strongest possible environmental credentials.”
“We are very pleased, therefore, to see the MV Alfred delivering all of these qualities and to be, literally, the flagship of a service that is truly breaking ground on all counts.”
The Vietnam-built vessel, named after the father of the current managing director, replaces a smaller ferry, the MV Pentalina, on the route. The lower power requirement makes a major difference: the same amount of output on a fossil fuel vessel would only power the lights. The commissioning of the MV Albert is part of a wider move in Scotland and elsewhere towards lower carbon ferry transport.
Caledonian Macbrayne, which operates Hebridean and Clyde ferries, now has three vessels in its fleet – the MV Hallaig, MV Catriona and MV Lochinvar – powered by a low carbon hybrid system using traditional diesel along with lithium ion battery power.
These dual fuel ferries are used on relatively short routes including Sconser on Skye to the Isle of Raasay and Lochranza on Arran to Claonaig in Kintyre, achieving greater efficiency using electric power on short and sheltered runs.
The Calmac ferries have been criticised for their high cost, though the company claims that carbon savings of up to 30% can be achieved. It also has two hybrid vessels on order, to be fuelled by cleaner liquefied natural gas (LNG) alongside conventional diesel.
There have been disputes with the shipbuilder, the now nationalised Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow, about the overall cost of these new ferries, though it is hoped they will enter service on routes from Ardrossan in Ayrshire and Uig on Skye next year.
Using LNG will lead to the virtual elimination of potentially damaging nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions as well as a lowering of carbon emissions.
Calmac has calculated that moving to a more environmentally friendly fleet will achieve cost as well as environmental benefits, as achieving lower carbon means burning smaller amounts of conventional fuel and that leads directly to lower bills.
Over a decade, it is estimated, the move could save Calmac some £500,000.
As the world moves towards zero carbon, the output of the global shipping and ferry sector is coming under much greater scrutiny. The International Maritime Organisation’s has set targets for the industry to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 50 per cent of 2008 levels or below by 2050.
With shipping accounting for some 13% of overall emissions from the transport sector within the EU in 2015, the European Commission has set its own strategy for reducing pollution.
This includes monitoring, reporting and verification of carbon dioxide output from large ships using member state ports and ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets for maritime transport.
The commission also wants to see the introduction of other medium to long term measures, including market-based ones, with action starting from 2023.
Scotland is not the only European country taking early action to decarbonise its ferry fleet. Though not a member of the EU, Norway is also a pioneer in this area.
It has been using battery powered vessels since 2015 on routes such as fjord crossings and inland and coastal waterways – as with the MV Alfred, these are charged from shore connections at the ferry terminals.
On longer routes, hybrid systems are becoming more popular and entering service. These vessels may eventually become fully automatic, and it is anticipated that by 2022, the reduction in Norwegian carbon dioxide emissions should be the equivalent of taking 150,000 cars off the road.
The current fleet of vessels in
Norway is operated by a captain and a conventional crew but in time – as with cars – it is likely that they will be able to operate autonomously.
In Scotland, we’re not at that stage yet. But can it be that the next generation of our ferries will be able to go to sea carbon free and without any human intervention at all?
We are very pleased to see the MV Alfred delivering and to be, literally, the flagship of a service that is truly breaking ground on all counts