Wartsila to power Spanish LNG ferry

Finnish engine maker Wärtsilä said it has signed a contract with Spain’s LaNaval shipyard for the design and supply of the LNG power and propulsion installation for a new RoRo passenger ferry.

The ship is being built for Spanish owner Baleària, serving the Balearic Islands. There is also an option for a second vessel.

Wärtsilä said in a statement on Friday it will also provide inclusive project support services to the yard, including integration engineering and on-site consulting, as well as commissioning of the combined systems.

When entering regular service in 2019, this “eco-efficient smartship” will be the first gas-propelled RoRo passenger ferry operating in the Mediterranean Sea, and among the largest ferries in Europe, according to the statement.

It has a length of 232 metres and a capacity for 331 vehicles and 1700 passengers, 70% of whom can be accommodated in cabins.

The Wärtsilä equipment, including dual-fuel main engines and LNG fuel storage and management system, is scheduled to be delivered to the yard in mid-2017.