High-Speed LNG Ferry to Be Powered by Wärtsilä

A new LNG-powered passenger ferry being built for Swedish operator Rederi AB Gotland will feature a Wärtsilä integrated solution. Wärtsilä will provide a complete LNG powered propulsion and fuel storage and supply system that will feature four Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines. This will be the first Swedish flagged LNG passenger vessel and the first LNG fuelled high-speed RoPax ferry in the world. The vessel is being built at the Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) yard in China and when delivered, will sail between the Swedish mainland and the island of Gotland. The ship will carry approximately 1,650 passengers and will have approximately 4,300 trailer lane feet. By operating on LNG, the new 600 ft. long ferry will comply with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Tier III regulations regarding emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). It also will meet the sulphur (SOx) emissions limitations required for operating in the Northern European sulphur emissions controlled areas (SECA), while emissions of particulates will also be reduced to virtually zero. In addition to its compliance with emissions legislation, the ferry will also meet the requirements of the IMO’s recently agreed IGF Code regarding the safety of LNG fuelled ships. In addition to the complete LNG powered propulsion and fuel and storage system, the Wärtsilä integrated solution will include services relating to project management, integration engineering, on-site support and overall commissioning responsibility. It has been designed to meet the DNV-GL classification society’s high comfort ratings for climate, noise and vibrations. Delivery of the Wärtsilä equipment will begin at the end of 2015 and the ship is scheduled to be in operation in 2017.