Steel Cutting Marks Start of Construction for LNG Ferries

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday January 21, 2015

Canada's BC Ferries Monday announced that construction had Friday begun in Gdansk, Poland, of three new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-powered vessels.

BC Ferries commissioned the three ferries from Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. (Remontowa) and is reportedly paying $165 million for them to be designed and built at the Baltic port city.

The ferries will enter service as intermediate class vessels in the BC Ferries fleet, able to carry 145 vehicles and 600 passengers.

"These will be a significant advancement forward in terms of technology that is going to drive operational efficiencies and improve elements of safety," said Mark Wilson, BC Ferries' Vice President of Engineering.

The dual-fuel ferries will run on LNG as a primary fuel source with marine diesel as an alternative.

Although construction of the vessels has now officially begun, BC Ferries staff in Poland and Remontowa are still working to finalise the design of a number of aspects.

Keel laying for the first vessel is expected to take place in March, with the hull launched in November and the superstructure, machinery, and auxiliary systems added while in the water.

Construction on ferries two and three will commence in April and July this year, respectively.

The first of the vessels should be ready for use by July 2016 with the others following in August 2016 and early 2017.

In November last year BC Ferries revealed it is also converting its two largest ferries to run on LNG in a move that it hopes will cut fuel bills in half.

Ship & Bunker News Team
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