By
Alex Smith |
Technology group Wärtsilä will provide its propulsion solutions for a new high-speed ferry being built by Austal at its shipyard in The Philippines for Danish operator Molslinjen.
The vessel will feature four Wärtsilä 31 engines and Wärtsilä WXJ1500SRI waterjets, the first time they have been used in combination for a fast ferry. Wärtsilä will also provide its ProTouch bridge controls system.
“This combination of the Wärtsilä 31 engine and WXJ waterjets is unique for fast ferries, delivering exceptional fuel efficiency, reliability, quality and performance,” said Stefan Nysjö of Wärtsilä Marine. “This is an exciting project, and we are honoured to have been selected to provide the level of propulsion demanded.”
The ferry will be capable of carrying up to 1,610 passengers, with space for 450 cars. It will have an operating service speed of close to 37 knots.
“The size of the vessel, together with the speed and propulsion efficiency, makes this a very special project,” said Wayne Murray, president of Austal Philippines. “It will be, by volume, the largest ferry ever built in our shipyards, and it will offer a powerful, yet economical and environmentally friendly solution.”
The equipment from Wärtsilä will be delivered to the yard in July 2021, with the ferry scheduled to enter service in early 2022. It will operate on the Molslinjen Bornholm route between Ystad and Rønne in Denmark.