The English Channel can be crossed by plane, through the Eurotunnel or by ferry. The ferry journey between Calais and Dover covers 25 nautical miles and takes around two hours. A total of eleven ferries are in operation, each making several trips per day. A study by the non-governmental organisation Transport & Environment (T&E) shows that they emit 292,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. This makes Calais-Dover the second most climate-damaging ferry connection in Europe. And that is not the only ferry connection between the British Isles and the mainland. The five ships operating between Dover and Dunkirk contribute a further 99,000 tonnes of CO2 to the climate crisis (Klann et al., 2026). T&E notes that European ferries emit as much greenhouse gas as 6.6 million cars. In many port cities, the environmental impact of ferries is greater than that of cars. Six out of ten ferries could be converted to electric propulsion, which would not only benefit the environment but also make economic sense (T&E 2026).
Consciously perceiving the sea
Saillink is taking a different approach: with its 17-metre-long catamaran ‘Echoes’, the Swiss-British start-up offers a sailing ferry connection between Boulogne sur Mer and Dover. ‘In 2025, our first year of operation, we made 76 crossings and transported 465 people,’ reports co-founder Andrew Simons. The environmental scientist and boat builder – he replaced many planks on the Tres Hombres – is aiming for twice as many crossings in 2026. The season starts on 6 April. Saillink plans to set up a second line between Normandy and Sussex. ‘For test crossings this year, we will partially withdraw the boat from the existing route and conduct test voyages on the new route before purchasing a second vessel for it.’
Over 30 per cent of passengers brought their bicycles with them. Saillink co-founder Stephanie Stotz is involved in planning cycle routes in the city of Bern. ‘It’s not just about transport,’ writes Saillink on its website. ‘It’s a statement. A way to bring meaning back to our travels, to reconnect with nature, and to reduce our impact while reinventing sustainable transport.’ Guests are welcome to actively participate in sailing on board: taking the helm or helping to trim the sails. The professional crew consists of two people and is recruited for each sailing season.
Saillink is not entirely CO2-free either. In 2025, the two engines ran 31 per cent of the time. ‘This is so that we can arrive on time when there is little wind, if our guests need to catch a specific connection, and for harbour manoeuvres,’ explains Andrew. An important difference to ferries is that Saillink switches off the engines when the Echoes reaches the quay. The large ferries, on the other hand, keep their engines running even in port. ‘In Dover, the ferries would be ready to connect to shore power instead, but the port does not have the necessary infrastructure,’ reports Andrew. ‘In Portsmouth, on the other hand, the necessary connections are available in the port, but the shipping company is reluctant to invest in the necessary equipment on board.’
A small group of investors and supporters co-financed the start-up. To ensure its economic viability, Saillink established itself as an institution on both sides of the Channel before the ship – with a capacity of twelve passengers – could set sail. Among other things, port and border control authorities had to be won over so that passport control on both sides could take place unbureaucratically on the pier. And the website provides gastronomic and tourist tips for hikes.
In addition, Saillink collaborates with scientists by collecting marine data. And in the future, the possibility of loading up to one tonne of cargo will also be used more extensively.
References
Transport & Environment T&E (2026): Ferry Pollution Worse than Cars in Many European Port Cities. https://cleantechnica.com/2026/03/03/ferry-pollution-worse-than-cars-in-many-european-port-cities/
Felix Klann, Leo Tricaud (2026): Full Charge ahead : Investigating the potential to electrify Europe’s ferries. Transport & Environment T&E, https://www.transportenvironment.org/uploads/files/FINAL_LOCKED_202602_Ferry-techno-eco_report-1-1.pdf