Shippax conference
First dual-fuel ferries in the Americas
Although there have been several new ferry services opening or under development in Europe using dual-fuel engines, such as the much publicised Viking Grace, work is well underway on the first dual-fuel ferries to enter service in North and South America. Giorgio Arena, sales manager
for ferries at Italian builder Fincantieri, outlined its project to build a dual-fuel ferry for the Quebec, Canada, operator STQ, which runs ferries on routes on the St Lawrence river.
The vessel – which is under
construction and due for delivery at the end of 2014 – is 132m long, 22.4m wide, with a 5.4m draught. It will have capacity for 800 passengers and 180 cars. The diesel-electric dual-fuel propulsion system will give it a speed of 20 knots. It will be propelled by two
azimuthing propulsors, with thrusters powered through frequency converters. The main switchboard is in two sections – aft and forward. Four main generators will produce 21MW.
Each section drives one propulsor and one thruster. There are no transformers for propulsion but converters instead. LNG fuel will be stored in
two 250m3 LNG tanks located within the vessel structure, low down in the hull. Due to the need to operate in severe winter conditions, the hull is ice classed with ice breaking capability at bow and stern. Mr Arena said this will be the
first LNG passenger ship in North America, the first with LNG tanks inside the vessel and the first with transformer-less diesel- electric propulsion. In South America the first
dual-fuel ferry was outlined by Ivan Bach, product manager at GE Energy. The Incat-built catamaran Lopez Mena is powered by two LM2500 gas turbines, one in each hull, producing 23MW driving waterjets. Using gas turbines is lighter than diesel engines and produces a higher output. The vessel reached 50 knots at 90 per cent mcr during trials. It will be operated by
Dual-fuel Lopez Mena achieved 50 knots on trials
Nova Scotia ferry service opportunity The Nova Scotia International Ferry Partnership (NSIFP) set out an ambitious project to re-instate a ferry service across the Bay of Fundy between Yarmouth (Nova Scotia) and Portland, Maine, US. A ferry service had operated on the route for many years. It is an approximately 10.5 hour voyage using a conventional ferry. In 2005 the conventional ferry service operated by the 143m long Scotia Prince (formerly Stena Olympica) was suspended. For a while, a high speed catamaran operated on the shorter route from Yarmouth to Bar Harbour as well as the route to Portland which took six hours. But in 2009 the Province of Nova Scotia withdrew its subsidy for the service, which was then withdrawn “We are looking for a cruise ferry partner to participate in the project,” said
www.passengership.info
NSIFP’s Mike Gushue. Nova Scotia will provide up to US$21 million in support over seven years and upgrade terminal infrastructure. The figure is an estimate of the cumulative losses before the service is expected to break even in the seventh year. The minimum service requirement is a daily seasonal service from May- October, but Mr Gushue said that it is open to proposals for a year-round service. NSIFP is convinced that with suitable marketing there is sufficient demand for a service linking the US with Nova Scotia focusing on tourists and their vehicles, but also some commercial traffic. “We are looking for a qualified operator with a sound business plan, and we are keen to engage in negotiations with interested parties.” It has set a provisional deadline of 20 June to receive bids, but this could be extended. It is hoped to have a service in
Argentinian company Buquebus, completing the voyage from Montevideo to Buenos Aires in 2 hours. Mr Bach said that the ferry will use liquid fuel for maneouvring in port to meet class requirements, but will burn gas for the main part of the voyage.
operation by June 2014. He stressed that NSIFP is not
interested in buying or chartering a ferry but is offering finance to get a commercial service up and running. “We believe it will be a sustainable service.” PST
Portland, Maine could soon welcome a new ferry service from Nova Scotia
Passenger Ship Technology I 2nd Quarter 2013 I 73
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