Americas News
Fast LNG Ferry Fuelled from "Nano-station"
A dual-fuel ferry christened in Argentina this week will be fuelled from a liquefied natural gas (LNG) "nano-station," making operator Buquebus the first ferry company to provide its own LNG fuel supply, marine technology news site the Motorship reports.
The ferry, Francisco, will use seven Cryobox LNG refuelling units, developed by Argentinean gas technology company GNC Galileo as a method of producing small quantities of LNG for private users.
Francisco uses about 66 tonnes of fuel per day, and Buquebus estimates that it will reduce its fuel costs by at least 50 percent compared with conventional fuels while also reducing emissions.
The ferry, which uses GE gas turbines, can travel at 58 knots, leading to its designation as the world's fastest ferry.
GNC Galileo says the Cryobox units each supply as much as 12 tonnes per day of LNG, and additional modules can be added on a "plug and play" basis to keep up with demand.
"Cryobox is the result of five years of development and investigation, built on 30 years' expertise in the manufacturing of gas compressors in Argentina," said the company's CEO, Osvaldo del Campo.
"It represents a worldwide innovative leap, as it is one-of-a-kind equipment, due to its compact dimensions and modular configuration."
Incat Tasmania Pty Ltd., which built the ferry for Buquebus, said that Argentina's president, Christina Fernandez de Kirchner, christened the vessel Tuesday.
The ship is now in operation on the River Plate between Buenos Aires and Montevideo.
