Environmental Commitment

Because the protection of the environment is a core value in its approach to sustainability, the   Company is making a firm commitment to an environmentally-friendly future.

Green Marine - Eco-label

Brittany Ferries is proud to be one of the first companies accredited by the Green Marine eco-label, which is driving best practice in maritime sustainability. The company was audited in August and awarded its first accreditation certificate at a ceremony in Paris on 8 October 2020. It’s a powerful tool that scores sustainability on seven criteria, such as funnel emissions and underwater noise. It’s also Independently audited and progress can be tracked year-on-year pushing the company to achieve higher standards more quickly.

Signatory of the Chart

The ‘Sails Charter’ is a shared best practice within the sea transport industry to protect the marine environment and its coastlines. The charter has been adopted by 11 shipping companies, including Brittany Ferries. The Breton company is committed to reducing the shipping sector’s environmental footprint, working closely with NGOs, while continuing to look over the horizon towards new greener fuels and innovative modes of propulsion.

*Sustainable Actions for Innovative and Low Impact Shipping.

The Charte Bleue of Armateur de France

All French transport and maritime companies that are members of Armateurs de France, of which Brittany Ferries is a member, adhere to the commitments set out in ‘la Charte Bleue’, wherever the vessels are registered. These commitments aim to promote the synergy of companies in the maritime sector which are committed to a successful energy transition, while pursuing an overall objective of sustainable development. This also includes issues of social responsibility.

Research & development on a daily basis

Brittany Ferries has entered into a partnership with CEA Tech, an internationally renowned R & D institute. In addition to a study into ship- board solar panels and batteries, an investigation into a long-range broadband Wi-Fi link on the Portsmouth to Caen route with the aim of improving the services offered on board and enabling real-time data exchange is also being carried out. As part of a call for projects launched by ADEME (the French Environment and Energy Control Agency), Brittany Ferries is taking part in a scientific and technical project concerning the characterisation of emissions of fine particles from ships (CAPNAV Project).

Specialised paints

Brittany Ferries uses the very latest silicon-based paints (coating the submerged parts of ships’ hulls), which are non-toxic and have the advantage of improving the hydrodynamics properties of the ship, thereby reducing CO 2 emissions. The introduction over recent years of this type of paint has enabled the company to reduce its fuel consumption and atmospheric emissions.

An energy-saving device

During Pont-Aven’s drydock at the end of 2018, technical teams took the opportunity to install an energy saving device on the hub of each propeller. The device is similar to a small principal propeller that is attached to the propeller’s hub cap. It minimizes flow losses behind the propeller. The installation of the two EnergoProfin devices, from Wärtsilä, will reduce fuel consumption by around 2%. Thereby further reducing emissions. The supply and installation costs were recouped in less than a year.

Optimised routes

On Brittany Ferries’ routes, the effects of currents and tides are very significant. Vessels making long crossings are equipped with routing software that takes into account tide, weather and vessel operating parameters, and offers advice to reduce consumption, and atmospheric emissions.

Self-sufficiency in fresh water

Because fresh water is a scarce and precious commodity, most of the vessels in the fleet are equipped with facilities to produce fresh water on board from heated and desalinated seawater. These facilities reduce the overall ecological impact.

Waste water treatment

All Brittany Ferries vessels built over the last 20 years are equipped with wastewater treatment facilities. Any water polluted by chemical products such as hydrocarbons is treated ashore by specialised companies.

Reduction of single-use plastics on board

Brittany Ferries has taken steps to eliminate the use of plastic in catering and cabin areas on all its vessels.

Zero waste discharge at sea and recycling

In addition to efforts to reduce waste volumes, and non-biodegradable products, the waste produced by on-board activities is taken ashore reprocessed through discrete channels. Items recycled range from simple electric batteries, frying oil, paper in offices, etc. to operating waste su.ch as paint cans, soiled rags, cans, metals and wood.

To go even further, a study co-financed by ADEME too place in 2019/2020 on order to identify actions to optimise the management of waste produced on board and on land, and to reduce it at source.

Sourcing supplies closer to home

Where possible Brittany Ferries selects local producers and farmers in order to guarantee fresh, in-season food and reduce food miles and therefore carbon footprint. 

Protecting the marine environment

Brittany Ferries hosts various international marine research projects on board its ships. Cruise-ferries Armorique and Pont-Aven each carry a ‘ferry box’ which carries out real-time seawater measurements. The company is also working with the Marine Biological Association (previously called SAHFOS). This Plymouth charity is part of a worldwide project to collect and monitor plankton samples, and to conduct marine temperature surveys. The results allow scientists to assess the effects of global warming. The company is also a partner of major organisations such as the Océanopolis aquarium I Brest and the National Centre for Scientific Research in Roscoff. In 2020 Brittany Ferries will participate in Brittany’s very first ‘Blue Marathon’, an event that aims to raise children’s awareness about the oceans and their protection.

Raising passengers’ awareness

For two decades, Brittany Ferries has been organising presentations and surveys in partnership with charity ORCA on sailings traversing the Bay of Biscay. ORCA is committed to the long-term protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans) and their habitats. Volunteers live and work on board from spring until autumn. In addition to educating travellers, the scientists study and monitor cetaceans to count populations, record their movements and better understand their behaviour, in order to protect them.

Roscoff Biological Station

Brittany Ferries also maintains a partnership with the Roscoff biological station. As part of this partnership, the Armorique and Pont Aven vessels house a "ferry box" which carries out real-time analyses of sea water, helping to improve understanding of CO2 exchanges in coastal ecosystems.

SAHFOS

Some vessels are equipped with a Continuous Plankton Recorder CPR system provided by SAHFOS based in Plymouth to study plankton.