By
Rebecca Gibson |
Wärtsilä has been contracted to supply gas-powered propulsion machinery, as well as the necessary gas storage and handling systems, for a new passenger ferry ordered by Canadian operator Société des Traversiers du Québec (STQ).
The new ship is to be built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy and will be the first North American ferry powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). It is scheduled for delivery at the end of 2014 and will be used on routes crossing the St Lawrence River, which has been a designated Emission Control Area since August 2012.
Wärtsilä will install 34 dual-fuel generating sets which will produce the majority of the ferry’s operating power, allowing STQ to comply with emission regulations enforced by the IMO in accordance with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). The use of LNG instead of diesel as engine fuel will ensure the ferry is environmentally sustainable by reducing emissions of nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide and sulphur oxide.
The vessel will use Wärtsilä’s LNGPac system, which includes onboard LNG bunkering, handling equipment and storage tanks, as well as the related safety control and automation systems. The Wärtsilä propulsion solution is designed to allow all engines to revert to marine diesel oil operation if gas is not available, enabling vessels to achieve full redundancy and ensure safety.
“All in all, Wärtsilä has now sold more than 2,000 of its gas fuelled engines, which together have accumulated more than 7 million operational running hours in both land-based and marine applications,” said Aaron Bresnahan, VP of Wärtsilä Ship Power sales. “We are extremely proud to be contributing in a meaningful way towards more sustainable shipping.”
Georges Farrah, CEO of STQ, added: “I am very happy with the outcome of the very demanding design and construction process for this new ship due to start service in Matane, Baie-Comeau and Godbout in 2015. At 130 metres long and with a capacity for 800 passengers and 180 cars, the new ferry will be much larger and better equipped than the Camille-Marcoux it will replace.”
STQ’s contract with Wärtsilä was signed in October 2012 and the equipment is expected to arrive in autumn 2013.