A new multimillion-pound hybrid ship has arrived in Kent for the first time.

P&O’s Pioneer, which is one of two new vessels joining the company’s fleet, arrived in Dover at 8am.

The two ships, costing a combined £230 million, will replace P&O’s older fleet and are double-headed, saving time when loading and unloading by virtue of not having to turn around in port.

Pioneer will sail on the Dover-Calais route and will make its first journey on the stretch on June 19.

After announcing the order in 2020, P&O said the ships would cut fuel use by 40% "through a combination of fuel and battery propulsion".

Built by Guangzhou Shipyard in China, P&O also claimed the ship is designed with the capacity to be carbon neutral in the future on the twin assumptions that there are more electric shore charging stations in ports and batteries.

In April, P&O launched an investigation after an issue with a lifeboat on the new multi-million pound ship, delaying the launch.

The incident happened while the lifeboat was being lowered during safety checks on the vessel in Dunkirk, in France.

Further safety checks were then made before the vessel was brought to Kent.