Seaspan Ferries takes delivery of LNG hybrid
Seaspan Swift is powered by two Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel engines and a 1,050V, 546kWh Corvus Energy Storage System (ESS) consisting of 84 AT6500 advanced lithium polymer batteries. The battery system, integrated with an Elkon power distribution system, will be used as a spinning reserve and for port manoeuvres.
The cargo ferry will be joined by a sister ship in February, after which the operator will order a further three ferries, Seaspan CEO Jonathan Whitworth told The Motorship and other shipping media last week. The 148m vessels, designed by Vard Marine, will have capacity for 60 truck trailers compared to the 30-40 trailer capacity of its existing seven vessels – which have been in service for an average of 36 years.
Seaspan Ferries operates cargo-only services between Vancouver Island and the Canadian mainland, carrying up to 800 trailers a day. The company claims to carry around 60% of all products consumed on the island off the coast of British Columbia.
The Seaspan Group (unrelated to the Vancouver-based containership owner of the same name) also operates Vancouver Shipyards, Vancouver Drydock and Victoria Shipyards. The company chose to have its new ferries built in Turkey as its whole building capacity is currently devoted to fulfilling the non-combat package of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, comprising seven vessel types for the Royal Canadian Navy and Coast Guard.
