Finnish Border Guard to trial bio LNG on coastguard vessel
The Finnish Border Guard opted to proceed with the testing programme after Wärtsilä evaluated the specifications of the LBG. The LBG will be tested on a 96-metre long patrol vessel, the Turva. The Turva is fitted with Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines. Wärtsilä is confident that the LBG represents a viable fuel choice for the Wärtsilä engines.
The liquefied biogas will be supplied by Gasum, a Finnish biogas refiner, from its Turku plant. A subsequent delivery will be supplied from a plant in Norway.
“The strategy for the Border Guard’s fleet of patrol vessels is to switch to environmentally sustainable fuels wherever possible. Testing the Bio LNG in the Turva is an important step forward in fulfilling this strategy,” says Commander Marko Aheristo from the Finnish Border Guard.
“Wärtsilä is investing heavily in the development of technology for alternative clean fuels that can drive decarbonisation throughout the shipping industry. We have developed our engine technology to be compatible with the use of such fuels. LNG is already broadly accepted as a viable marine fuel, and we see Bio LNG as a natural next step. We are, therefore, extremely supportive of this testing programme,” says Juha Kytölä, R&D and Engineering, Wärtsilä Marine Power.
LBG is a fully renewable fuel that can reduce CO2 emissions over its life cycle by up to 90 percent compared to conventional fuel. It emits no particulate matter (PM), and close to zero nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur oxides (SOx).
