The new vessels were specifically designed for the Dover-Calais route and are built to Lloyd's Register "Green Passport" which provides a comprehensive strategy for all materials used.

These rules require that, in the event of a ship becoming a casualty, basic services are provided to all persons on board and that certain systems remain operational for safe return to port.

Performance standards are stipulated for a wide range of ship systems including fire-fighting, power supply, propulsion, steering and navigation.

On 21 March 2022 United Kingdom Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced that he would seek P&O Ferries to rename Spirit of Britain and other ships on the fleet which carry British names if the company were found to have breached employment regulations following the summary dismissal without notice via Zoom of 800 British seafarers to be replaced with cheaper overseas agency workers.

In December 2010 the vessel's registered owner and ship manager became P&O Short Sea Ferries Ltd, Dover, United Kingdom.

Owing to heavy ice conditions in the Baltic Sea she was escorted by the icebreaker Nordica until she reached Stockholm, Sweden.

On 21 January the ferry entered commercial service between Dover and Calais[8] under the command of senior master, Captain David Miller.

The following day Spirit of Britain departed the Margate Roads bound for Zeebrugge, arriving at 23:30 and returned to Dover on 6 February at 22:00 before taking up the 23:15 sailing to Calais.

On 24 March the vessel was officially named Spirit of Britain by Dame Kelly Holmes at Dover's eastern docks.