The shipping company Baleària, a pioneer in the application of liquefied natural gas in maritime transport, adds a new milestone with the construction of the world's first fast ferry for passengers and cargo powered by dual LNG engines. The fast ferry is being built in the Armon de Gijón shipyard, Baleària president Adolfo Utor announced yesterday at the inaugural conference of the 57th Congress of Naval Engineering and Maritime Industry, which is being held these days in Valencia.
Capacity and investment
With a length of 125 meters and a beam of 28 meters, the new catamaran will have capacity for 1,200 passengers and 500 passenger cars (or alternatively 500 linear meters of trucks and 250 cars), which also makes it "the fastest fast ferry catamaran" length and existing capacity currently, "explained Utor.
The vessel will be powered by four dual Wartsilä LNG / GO engines of 8800 kW each, which will allow it to reach a service speed of 35 knots and a maximum speed of more than 40 knots. In addition, it will have two tanks to store liquefied natural gas with a range of 400 nautical miles. On the other hand, the bow of this innovative aluminum vessel has been specially designed combining improvements in behavior derived from the vertical prows in the side hulls with the incorporation of wave piercing. It should be noted that the ship's design complies with the most stringent environmental and energy efficiency standards.
Baleària will invest 90 million euros in the construction of this fast ferry, which is scheduled to start the aluminum cut next December and to enter into service in the summer of 2020.
Natural Gas pioneers
"Baleària's strategic commitment to LNG responds to criteria of social responsibility and economic profitability.The axiom, less pollution, greater economic profitability, works fully with this fuel," Baleària president Adolfo Utor said, adding that his conference also emphasized in the innovative zeal of the shipping company.
Baleària is also finalizing the construction of the first two smart ships with LNG engines that will sail in the Mediterranean. It is planned that the Hypatia of Alexandria will start operating at the beginning of next year and the Marie Curie a few months later. In addition, this autumn the first of a total of six vessels in the fleet will be remotorized so that they can navigate propelled by liquefied natural gas. The European Union has recently described as excellent this project, which will be carried out over the next two years, and has awarded Baleària a grant of nearly 12 million euros, on a total investment of 72 million euros.
Baleària plans to have, in the next three years, at least half of its fleet of ferries sailing with this clean energy, and reach one hundred percent of the fleet within a period of ten years.
Source: Baleària