EMEA News
LNG-Powered Ferry Delivered to Fjord Line
Norway's Fjord Line says it has received its new liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered cruise ferry, MS Stavangerfjord.
"Our finest dreams have come true," said CEO Ingvald Fardal.
The ship, which was built at the Bergen Group Fosen shipyard in Norway, had originally been scheduled for delivery in April, but the company announced this spring that testing of engines and other equipment was taking longer than expected.
"So that makes it even more gratifying to be able to deliver this elegant ship with new designs and environmentally-friendly LNG engines that will set the standard for similar projects to come," said shipyard director Anders Straumsheim.
The vessel, along with its sister ship MS Bergensfjord, will carry travellers from western and south-eastern Norway to Denmark and the rest of continental Europe.
The company hopes to get permission to also transport cargo between Stavanger and Bergen, according to Janne Johnsen, mayor of Rogaland county, who has been named the ship's "godmother."
"We also expect a sharp increase in the numbers of tourists arriving from Europe," Johnsen said.
"So these beautiful, well-equipped cruise ferries will be of great importance to the Norwegian tourism industry."
The Stavangerfjord and Bergensfjord have been called the "most environmentally friendly" ships of their kind.
