Cruise and Ferry Review - Summer/Spring 2020

1 7 9 However, Woodall knows that more must be done, especially as customers are becoming increasingly conscious of their own environmental impacts. “We are steadily getting more and more enquiries from our passengers about the carbon footprint of their travels,” he says. “However, there is no single accepted standard for making such calculations so there is always a risk that data will be misinterpreted, particularly when attempting to make comparisons with other modes of transport. We have found that it is best to just be transparent.” Woodall feels that the most important and exciting step for the industry will be the discovery or creation of a new and better fuel. “Batteries and fuel cells are good for short journeys, but they would not be able to provide the power needed for ocean voyages,” he says. “The technology is not yet mature enough to carry out full-scale commercial deployment on our ships, but we are engaged in a number of pilot projects to develop it further. “LNG is also useful for the time being but, as a fossil fuel, it won’t survive past 2050. The perfect fuel will require significant investments from players across the industry, and perhaps beyond.” Despite the difficulties, Woodall believes the IMO is doing its best to help the industry sail into a cleaner, greener future. “It is very active in working with shipping operators to find sustainable and affordable ways to keep ships in the water,” he explains. “Shipping is a global industry which means that policies must be made at this level, not at a regional or national level, and this is exactly what is happening.” While the fuel of the future may still be a work in progress, DFDS is taking every step to be kinder to the environment in other ways. “This is a continuous effort, so we are always looking for new ways to reduce our environmental impact,” says Woodall. “These include reducing plastic onboard our ferries, offering incentives for passengers using their own reusable items onboard, and carbon offsetting.” CFR A new, more fuel efficient ferry (above) will replace DFDS’s Calais Seaways (top) on its Channel routes from 2022