Newbuild ECA Ferry Receives First LNG Bunkering from Skangas

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Thursday January 5, 2017

Finland's Skangas AS (Skangas) today announced that Megastar, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered ferry being built for emission control area (ECA) operator AS Tallink Grupp (Tallink) by the Meyer Turku Oy (Meyer Turku) shipyard, was bunkered with LNG for the first time on Wednesday at the Skangas Pori LNG Terminal.

"It has been great to participate in the construction of the new-generation LNG-powered Tallink Megastar. Megastar is yet another proof of Meyer Turku being a global forerunner in the construction of LNG-powered ships," said Kari Toivonen, Meyer Turku Project Manager.

"Using LNG as a fuel is an efficient way of reducing the environmental impacts of shipping. Hull form design and modeling helped minimise hull resistance – and therefore also minimise energy consumption during operation."

The ferry, which is set to run on a Helsinki to Tallinn route, is noted to utilise LNG as fuel for the purpose of ECA compliance.

"We’re happy that Megastar is now ready for operation and we're able to supply her with LNG, a fuel that has excellent environmental properties as its sulphur dioxide, particulate, nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide emissions are very low," said Tommy Mattila, Skangas' Sales and Marketing Director.

"Thanks to LNG, the engine exhaust gases contain hardly any nitrogen oxides, which are particularly harmful as regards issues such as the eutrophication of the Baltic Sea. We want to offer the shipping industry reliable, safe and efficient LNG bunkerings."

In October, Tallink announced that it had signed contracts with Estonia's AS Eesti Gaas (Eesti Gaas) and Skangas for the supply of LNG for Megastar.