Brittany Ferries has confirmed names for its next ships.

The one-year charter vessel arriving in November will be called Kerry.

As previously announced, this ship will cover the Cork to Santander route until November next year.

The company has also revealed that Santoña (pronounced Santonia in English) has been chosen for the company’s third E-Flexer class ship.

To be chartered from Stena, Santoña is part of the company’s €550 million fleet renewal programme, with a clear focus on sustainable development.

Santoña will arrive in 2023 and like sister ship, Salamanca, she will be powered liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Santoña will be the third LNG powered vessel to join the Brittany Ferries fleet.

The fuel burns more efficiently than diesel, so promises significant improvements in air quality as well as a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Combustion produces no sulphur, virtually no particulates and 95 per cent less NOx (nitrogen dioxide) than diesel.

LNG is also up to 28 per cent better in terms of greenhouse gas emissions according to findings of an independent, peer-reviewed report published in April this year.

“Brittany Ferries is committed to LNG as the most environmentally-friendly fuelling solution currently available for shipping,” said Frédéric Pouget, Brittany Ferries director of fleet and port operations.

“Despite the significant investment made in scrubber technology for our ships, we know that the best way to respect the environments in which we operate, and to exceed emission reduction targets, is to commit to LNG.

“This is what we have done with an investment worth half a billion euros.”

The company’s first LNG ship, Honfleur, will be operational next year.

She is currently under construction in Germany and will serve the company’s busiest Portsmouth to Caen route.

Salamanca will arrive in 2022 to carry passengers and freight on long haul routes between the UK and Spain. Santoña will join the fleet in 2023.