Wärtsilä to Power World’s First High Speed RoPax LNG Ferry

The first Swedish-flagged LNG powered passenger vessel,and the first LNG fuelled high speed RoPax ferry in the world, being built for Swedish operator Rederi AB Gotland, will feature a Wärtsilä integrated solution, including a complete LNG powered propulsion and fuel storage and supply system, as well as comprehensive project services.

The vessel is being built at the Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) yard in China and when delivered, will sail between the Swedish mainland and the island of Gotland. GSI placed the contract with Wärtsilä in November.

In addition to the complete LNG powered propulsion and fuel & storage system, the Wärtsilä integrated solution will include services relating to project management, integration engineering, on-site support and overall commissioning responsibility.

Wärtsilä’s scope of responsibility includes four Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines, two gearboxes, two controllable pitch propellers (CPPs) with remote control system, two Energopac rudders, two tunnel thrusters, four Wärtsilä 20DF dual-fuel auxiliary generating sets, two Wärtsilä LNGPac fuel gas handling systems, gas valve units, a compact silencer system (CSS), an IMO approved Wärtsilä Aquarius UV ballast water management system, an Oily Water Separator together with a Bilge Water Guard to monitor and prevent oily water being discharged to the sea, project management services, integration engineering services, commissioning services and on-site supervision during installation. Delivery of the Wärtsilä equipment will begin at the end of 2015 and the ship is scheduled to be in operation in 2017.

“Together with Guangzhou Shipyard International in China and Danish designers OSK-Shiptech, we will realise the first of an entirely new generation of fast, yet environmentally sound RoPax ferries. Not only will Wärtsilä deliver the entire LNG fuel handling and power and propulsion system, we will also provide comprehensive project management services, such as integration engineering, on-site support and extended commissioning,” said Wilco van der Linden, Director Business Development, Merchant Cruise and Ferry at Wärtsilä Solutions.

The ship will carry approximately 1650 passengers, will have 1750 trailer lane metres and can accommodate a corresponding number of passenger cars, campers and busses. It has been designed to meet the DNV-GL classification society’s comfort ratings for climate, noise and vibrations.