29/11/2023
100% of PONANT fleet equipped with shore-side power connections by end of 2026
To date, four ships already have shore power connections to plug into a port’s electricity grid, Le Bellot, Le Dumont-d’Urville, Le Jacques-Cartier and Le Champlain. Two other vessels, L’Austral and Le Boréal, will be fitted in 2024, and the rest of the fleet by 2026. Deployment of shore power connection represents an investment by the company of one million euros per ship. Connecting ships to the shoreside reduces both our atmospheric emissions and our carbon footprint.
We are exploring numerous options to achieve the goal of cutting our CO2-per-sailing-day emissions by 30% by 20301 and becoming carbon neutral by 2040. We are among the first operators to invest in shore-side power connection systems. We can now partner with ports that have this facility to assess the effects and constraints of these technologies in real-life conditions. Our feedback will benefit the whole sector by contributing to ramping up the power of this equipment.
Patrick Augier, PONANT General Secretary
Decarbonization a major challenge for maritime transport
Through the Fit for 55 legislative programme, the European Union has set itself the target to reduce its CO2 emissions by 55% between 1990 and 2030. The EU is aiming for carbon neutrality in the maritime sector by 2050. From 2025, fossil marine fuels will be subject to more taxes and maritime transport will be included in the European emissions trading system of CO2 quotas from 2024. The whole industry and its stakeholders are now mobilising for more responsible tourism.
©Studio PONANT - Doriane Letexier
Every time Le Bellot calls in Hafnarfjörður, in Iceland, the engines are switched off and the ship plugs into the port’s electricity network. Since being fitted end of 2022, the ship has reduced her atmospheric emissions at shoreside.
1 Reference year 2018