Americas News
Wärtsilä to Supply Hybrid LNG Propulsion Packages to Two BC Ferries Vessels
Wärtsilä Corporation (Wärtsilä) Monday announced that it will provide propulsion packages for the conversion of two RoPax vessels of Canadian ferry operator British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. (BC Ferries) to dual-fuel conventional and LNG bunker propulsion.
As Ship & Bunker reported in March, BC Ferries had awarded a $140 million contract to Remontowa Ship Repair Yard S.A. (Remontowa Shipbuilding) in Gdansk, Poland to complete mid-life upgrades (MLUs), including the propulsion conversion, on the company's two flagship vessels, the Spirit of British Columbia and the Spirit of Vancouver.
Remontowa Shipbuilding is said to have selected Wärtsilä to provide the propulsion packages through a contract placed last month, which will include the provision of a "comprehensive scope" of engines, propulsion machinery, integrated automation systems, and gas handling systems needed for the two RoPax ferries' MLU and LNG propulsion conversion.
"The broad scope of equipment needed heightens considerably the importance of systems integration and LNG experience and in this we believe that Wärtsilä is one of the best in the Marine sector," said Mark Wilson, Vice President of Engineering at BC Ferries.
The Wärtsilä equipment is said to be set for delivery to the shipyard during mid 2017 and mid 2018, prior to the individual arrivals of the two vessels.
In November, BC Ferries held a naming ceremony at Remontowa Shipbuilding for its newest vessel to be powered by LNG bunkers, the Salish Orca.
