Americas News
LNG Retrofits Planned For Canadian Ferries
Canada's BC Ferries will modify two of its largest, Spirit-class vessels with dual-fuel propulsion systems that can run on liquefied natural gas as part of mid-life refits, local newspaper the Times Colonist reports.
"A key initiative in this project is to minimize the vessels' fuel costs and environmental footprint," the company said.
The work, for which the company is now seeking bids, will be done in 2016 and 2017, and the full upgrades could cost CAD 50 million ($46 million) to CAD 60 million ($56 million) per ship.
George MacPherson, president of the B.C. Shipyard General Workers' Federation, said the upgrades will probably be done in British Columbia and will provide employment for local union workers for months.
"It's a lot of work," he said.
BC Ferries has also ordered three newbuilding dual-fuel vessels, which will be built in Poland.
In the past, the company has said that the conversion of existing ships to be able to use LNG was worth looking into, but faced obstacles including the large size of LNG fuel tanks and the logistical difficulties with taking vessels out of service for retrofitting.
