Wärtsilä’s integrated solution selected for two environmentally advanced Canadian ferries

Wärtsilä Corporation, Press release 11 September 2013 at 15:00 UTC+2
  • Wärtsilä’s integrated solution selected for two environmentally advanced Canadian ferries

Wärtsilä has been a pioneer in promoting the use of LNG as a marine fuel, and has developed industry leading technologies. Wärtsilä’s know-how and experience in developing dual-fuel technologies, together with its systems integration capabilities, brings significant benefits for the customer in terms of environmental compliance and lower operating costs.

Wärtsilä, the marine industry’s leading solutions and services provider, will supply an integrated solution for two dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) Ro-Pax passenger ferries being built on behalf of Canadian ferry services provider Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ). The contract was issued in August by Chantier Davie Canada (Davie), Canada’s largest shipyard, the builder of the two vessels.

For each of the two vessels, the contract includes the supply of Wärtsilä 20DF engines, the Wärtsilä LNGPac fuel storage and treatment system, Wärtsilä electrical power and automation systems, and Wärtsilä’s Control & Communication Centre (3C), the integrated bridge control, navigation, and communication control system. Wärtsilä will also provide the yard with site management and commissioning services.

The Ro-Pax ferries will operate on LNG fuel, which offers notable environmental and economic benefits compared to conventional marine fuels. However, Wärtsilä’s dual-fuel engine technology allows a seamless switch to other fuels should it be necessary. Wärtsilä has been a pioneer in promoting the use of LNG as a marine fuel, and has developed industry leading technologies that make this possible.

Alan Bowen, CEO of Davie commented: "Wärtsilä is a leader in LNG dual-fuel technology and we are very pleased to add the ferries to our working partnership with them, which presently extends across all construction programmes at Davie. As leaders in their respective fields, Davie and Wärtsilä are together able to provide the highest quality of products to a broad range of industries from passenger transportation to offshore oil & gas."

“Wärtsilä’s extensive know-how and experience in developing dual-fuel technologies, together with our systems integration capabilities, brings significant added value to customers seeking environmental compliance with operating cost reductions. By being able to offer a total solutions offering and integration support to the shipyard, we can reduce scheduling risks while increasing efficiencies and lowering costs. Furthermore, our lifecycle support capabilities in Canada are first rate, and this will provide the needed operational reliability to the owners,” says Mr Magnus Miemois, Vice President Solutions, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

“These orders highlight the global emergence of LNG as a prime fuel for ferries, and prove the value of our dual-fuel system for the uninterrupted and safe transport of passengers, cars and rolling cargo,” according to Wärtsilä’s Wilco van der Linden, head of business development for Merchant, Cruise and Ferry Solutions.

The two Ro-Pax double ended passenger ferries are each capable of accommodating 432 passengers and 8 crew members, and offer various capacity combinations for up to 115 car equivalent units or 16 tractor semi-trailers. They will operate throughout the year between Tadoussac and Baie-Sainte-Catherine on the Saguenay River in Québec, Canada and are scheduled to start service in 2015.

Picture: rendering of the STQ Ferry

Wärtsilä gets propulsion order for the first LNG powered ferry in North America - Press release 3 December 2012

For further information please contact:

Mr Wilco van der Linden
Director Business Development
Wärtsilä Ship Power
Tel. +31 41 6388529
wilco.vanderlinden@wartsila.com  

Ms Mirja-Maija Santala
Media Manager
Wärtsilä Corporation
Tel. +358 400 793 827
mirja-maija.santala@wartsila.com  

Wärtsilä in brief

Wärtsilä is a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total efficiency, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2012, Wärtsilä's net sales totalled EUR 4.7 billion with approximately 18,900 employees. The company has operations in nearly 170 locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland.
www.wartsila.com