First LNG fast ro-pax ferry ordered
The GE Energy LM2500 gas turbine
Incat has secured a contract to build the first high-speed passenger ro-pax ferry powered by gas turbines fuelled by LNG. It is for an existing Incat customer, which has asked not to be named at this stage.
Fellow Australian fast ferry specialist Austal may have presented a paper on LNG-fuelled high speed ferries at the recent Motorship LNG conference, but the race for the first order has been won by rival company Incat. Robert Clifford, Incat chairman, said: “this is a significant step forward as the use of natural gas powered ships must replace ships with less environmentally friendly engines. This first LNG powered fast ship is expected to set the scene for the future”.
The 99m long high-speed ferry, with capacity for over 1,000 passengers and 153 cars, is being built by the Incat Tasmania shipyard at Prince of Wales Bay in Hobart for delivery in 2012 to a customer who has, for now, requested the commercial arrangements and route remain under wraps.
Incat and Revolution Design engineers are working closely with technical personnel from GE in Europe and the United States to progress this project which will be the first installation of LNG powered dual fuel engines in an Incat high-speed ferry. It will also be the first high-speed craft built under the HSC code to be powered by gas turbines using LNG as the primary fuel and marine distillate for standby and ancillary use. The design teams are aiming towards the goal of making hull 069 the fastest, environmentally cleanest, most efficient, high-speed ferry in the world.
Each catamaran hull will house one GE Energy LM2500 gas turbine driving a Wartsila LJX 1720 waterjet, a departure from the usual use of two engines and two jets per hull as found in the diesel-powered Incat vessels.
The LM2500 gas turbines are to be modified to meet class requirements so that either LNG or marine distillate can be burned. The LM2500 is derived from the CF6 family of wide-body aircraft engines, and is also used in industrial and electrical generation applications, using a variety of gaseous and liquid fuels.
Naval warships as well as commercial ferries and cruise ships use the LM2500 for propulsion needs. While these applications burn liquid fuel, GE has modified the fuel delivery system to accommodate LNG. This will allow lower emissions and operating costs for commercial fast ferries.
The fuel tanks for the LNG will be installed in a compartment above the double bottom marine distillate tanks. The change-over between the two fuels will be automatically controlled and seamless.Images for this article - click to enlarge
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