Americas News
U.S. Operator Plans LNG Conversion for Six Ferries
Washington State Ferries (WSF) on the U.S. West Coast says it intends to convert six ships to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The plan, created after more than three years of study, was submitted to the U.S. Coast Guard on November 18, and the company expects the Coast Guard to issue a finding on the proposal next year.
The six ferries to be converted are Issaquah Class vessels, with a capacity of up to 124 cars and 1,200 passengers.
Converting the vessels from ultra-low sulfur diesel to LNG would reduce their emissions of particulate matter by 89 percent, nitrous oxides (NOx) by 61 percent, carbon dioxide (CO2) by 28 percent, and sulfur dioxide by 59 percent.
The conversion would include the installation of LNG-powered main propulsion engines and retrofit LNG fuel tanks on the ferries' top decks.
WSF has been studying the possible use of alternative fuels for the ferries since 2010.
In February, Det Norske Veritas (DNV), which worked with WSF on its studies of the LNG bunkers, said that the company is the biggest ferry operator in the U.S. and the third biggest in the world, making it a possible model for others in the industry.
