Fjord1 and Fiskerstrand BLRT to Build World’s Largest LNG-Powered Ferry
The Norwegian transport corporation Fjord1 has entered into a contract with Fiskerstrand BLRT AS to plan and construct the world’s largest gas-powered ferry. The ferry will run on Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) and will be delivered on 30 November 2011 for operation on Bokna Fjord between Arsvågen and Mortavika in Rogaland County. It will also function as a spare vessel for the Halhjem-Sandvikvåg route in Hordaland County.
The new LNG-powered ferry is designed by Multi Maritime AS in Førde and will have a total length of 129.9 metres, a maximum width of 19.2 meters and a capacity of 242 cars and/or 22 trucks in combination with cars.
The ferry will hold 600 passengers including staff, and shall be built according to Det Norske Veritas’ Class +1A1, Car ferry A, gas fuelled, Clean, RPS, EO, R3 (NOR). Its deadweight will be approx. 1300 metric tonnes, and it will be approx. 7000 GRT. The ferry will be equipped with four azimuth thrusters driven by a gas-electric system consisting of three large LNG gas motors and AC generators. The gas motors will give a service speed of approx. 20 knots.
Leif Øverland, CEO of Fjord1, expects a 90% reduction in NOx emissions compared to conventional diesel operated ferries.
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Following the success of the world’s first ferry to run on natural gas with Glutra in 2000, Fjord1 is still the only company using natural gas ferries for vehicle and public transportation with five more large vessels operating the links along the coastal roads of Norway. Fjord1 will by the end of 2011 have 12 gas ferries in operation along the Norwegian coast.
