Gas supply clinched for first German LNG ferry

The deal was signed with German shipowner Cassen Eils, a subsidiary of AG Ems, which is completing the 83m long and 13m wide ship at Fassmer Werft on a hull floated out for transport Monday at Polish shipyard Hullkon. The project represents a €30 million investment by AG Ems, €4.175m of which is being funded by the EU.

The ferry, to serve between Cuxhaven and Heligoland, draws 3.6m and her DF propulsion system operates mainly on LNG using two 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF medium-speed engines providing 5,000kW and a top speed of 20 knots. She seats 1180 people and carries ten 10ft containers and has a 10 ton capacity crane.

Bomin Linde will supply LNG which is the equivalent of more than 1.2 million litres of marine diesel oil a year – an amount it says is used by a conventional ferry in the same period. Re-fuelling will take place via a bunkering system already approved by both the classification society and flag-state Germany. Cassen Eils Technical Inspector Claus Hirsch added however that because LNG was cooled to about minus 163ºC, special security measures and personnel training were required for handling.

Bomin Linde also said it was building a tank depot in Hamburg as the base for the supply of LNG to neighbouring ports. It says its aim is to create an LNG service chain from purchase and transport to storage, distribution and fuelling in strategically significant ports.