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Greener ferries in the works

Ferry Online Travel News 21/02/2008

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A new bio-additive could make ferries run cleaner

Brittany Ferries has been trying out a new form of bio fuel developed by a French biotechnology firm which may make car ferries greener. Over the past year the Mont Saint-Michel car ferry has been powered by the new additive.

The bio-additive, known as Xbee, has been "more than promising" in reducing carbon emissions from bunker fuel often used by ferries.

Pascal Lecointre, of Xbee, said: "The results are more than promising on all the elements measured but more specifically on PM."

When the additive was introduced to fuel on the Mont Saint-Michel, the ship saw its black carbon emissions, or particulate matter (PM) dropped by an average of 40.97 per cent.

The improvement was measured against baseline tests taken as the ferry plied the waters between Portsmouth in the UK and Caen in France.

"Duplicating the benefits we demonstrated on Brittany Ferries could rapidly represent a quick and interesting breakthrough," Lecointre said.

Further development will be needed in order to reach the level of reduction the industry is looking for.

According to the biotech company, Xbee is not a chemical and does not damage engines or machinery when added to fuel. The additive works to improve fuel combustion and thereby reduces emission rates.

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