The NM F.-A.-Gauthier, the first ferry to run on liquefied natural gas in North America, built in Italy at the Fincantieri shipyard was officially commissioned.
It is the first ship of any kind to run on LNG in Canada. Following an agreement concluded in 2013, Gaz Métro, through its subsidiary Gaz Métro LNG, was chosen as the LNG supplier to fuel three new Société des traversiers du Québec ferries, including the NM F.-A.-Gauthier, the company said welcoming the commissioning of the LNG-ferry.
This ship is replacing the NM Camille-Marcoux for the Matane–Baie-Comeau–Godbout ferry service. The two other ships will be assigned to the Tadoussac–Baie-Sainte-Catherine crossing.
This ship, which is equipped with an integrated diesel-electric propulsion system has four dual-fuel diesel power generators installed and it can run on either LNG or marine diesel oil. This propulsion system fully meets the ecological requirements of the ECA areas (Baltic Sea, North Sea, Caribbean, North America).
The ship is also in ice-class 1A with regards to the hull and propulsion class 1AS, which allow the vessel to operate non-stop in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, known for its adverse weather conditions. F.-A.-Gauthier is also able to break sea ice.
The ferry’s two electric propulsion engines operate azimuth thrusters, each equipped with two Contra-Rotating propellers.
LNG World News Staff; Image: Gaz Metro