Wärtsilä to Deliver Gas Solution for Two Canadian Ferries to Be Converted to LNG

Wärtsilä has been awarded the contract by Gdańsk Shiprepair Yard (Remontowa) to supply engines, propulsion machinery, integrated automation systems, and gas handling systems required for the mid-life upgrading of two RoPax ferries and their conversion to operate on LNG fuel. The ferries, the Spirit of British Columbia and the Spirit of Vancouver, are the flagship vessels of British Columbia Ferry Services based in Victoria, Canada.

The work on the first of these ships will be carried out during the 2017–18 winter season, and during the following winter season for the second vessel. This means that the time allowed for completing the work is just seven months, including a delivery voyage of more than one month each way.

“We congratulate British Columbia Ferry Services for having the foresight and vision to undertake these mid-life upgrades, and for making the two ships environmentally sustainable by converting them to operate on LNG fuel,” said Aaron Bresnahan, Vice President, Sales, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.

The full scope of Wärtsilä’s supply includes four Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel engines with fuel gas systems, the Wärtsilä LNGPac fuel storage tank, a variety of other fuel system and other components, integration engineering, and crew training.

In December 2014, Wärtsilä was contracted to supply the dual-fuel machinery for three new ferries being built at the Remontowa yard on behalf of British Columbia Ferry Services.