EMEA News
Wärtsilä to Provide Propulsion to First LNG-Powered Passenger Ferry in the Mediterranean
Wärtsilä Corporation (Wärtsilä) Friday announced it has signed a contract with Spain's Construcciones Navales del Norte SL (LaNaval) to design and supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) power and propulsion installation for a new RoRo passenger ferry - set to become the first LNG-powered passenger ferry in the Mediterranean.
Wärtsilä says the eco-efficient "smartship," which is set to enter service in 2019, will be built for Span-based Baleària, noting that the 32 metre-long vessel will have a capacity for 331 vehicles and 1700 passengers.
"Baleària, the owners of this new ferry, appreciate the importance of LNG fuel in providing a cleaner marine environment. Wärtsilä, with a track record of more than 1500 gas fuelled engines with 16 million running hours, has by far the most experience in dual fuel power and propulsion installations," said Aaron Bresnahan, Vice President of Sales at Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.
Wärtsilä says the vessel's LNG propulsion will provide the ferry with an environmental footprint that is "greatly reduced" compared to similar vessels using standard marine diesel fuel, reducing CO2 emissions by 25 percent, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 85 percent, and sulfur and particulate matter (PM) emissions will be almost entirely eliminated.
"The output power from the Wärtsilä engines will allow the ship to reach a speed of 24 knots. Their technology will enable us to be highly efficient and competitive with our passenger and goods services," said Guillermo Alomar, Baleària’s Fleet Director.
The contract, which LaNaval is noted to have signed with Wärtsilä in August, covers the supply of four 8-cylinder Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel main engines, four 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF dual-fuel auxiliary engines, Wärtsilä LNGPac fuel storage and management system, two twin/single out gearboxes, two Wärtsilä Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP) with a bridge control system, and two Wärtsilä transverse thrusters, as well as engineering, project management, and on-site yard support services.
Wärtsilä says the equipment is scheduled to be delivered to the yard during the middle of 2017.
In August, Wärtsilä announced that it had signed a cooperation agreement with Gasum Oy (Gasum) intended to develop the use, distribution, and service solutions for natural gas in marine and onshore applications.
