Wärtsilä solutions for LNG ferries

Each vessel will feature Wärtsilä 20DF engines, Wärtsilä LNGPac fuel storage and treatment system, Wärtsilä electrical power and automation systems and Wärtsilä’s control and communication centre – the integrated bridge control, navigation and communication control system.

Wilco van der Linden, head of business development, merchant, cruise and ferry solutions at Wärtsilä, said: “These orders highlight the global emergence of LNG as a prime fuel for ferries, and prove the value of our dual-fuel system for the uninterrupted and safe transport of passengers, cars and rolling cargo.”

Magnus Miemois, vice president, solutions, Wärtsilä ship power, added: “By being able to offer a total solutions offering and integration support to the shipyard, we can reduce scheduling risks while increasing efficiencies and lowering costs. Furthermore, our lifecycle support capabilities in Canada are first rate, and this will provide the needed operational reliability to the owners.”

The double-ended passenger ferries are currently being built by Chantier Davie Canada shipyard. They will operate throughout the year between Tadoussac and Baie-Sainte-Catherine on the Saguenay River in Québec and are scheduled to start service in 2015.

Wärtsilä recently received a similar order for a Danish ferry, which will be the first domestic ferry to be run on LNG in the country.