FINNISH manufacturer Wärtsilä is to supply the engines and fuel gas supply systems for TT-Line’s new Spirit of Tasmania vessels.
Rauma Marine Constructions is building the two 212-metre-long vessels at its yard in Finland. The new vessels will be powered with LNG.
The scope of supply includes, for each ship, four Wärtsilä 46DF dual-fuel main engines, three Wärtsilä 20DF dual-fuel auxiliary engines, and two Wärtsilä LNGPac fuel storage, supply, and control systems. The engines will be able to operate on alternative green fuels as and when the availability evolves.
TT-Line chief executive officer Bernard Dwyer said the Wärtsilä engines on the current Spirits have delivered both performance and reliability backed by strong service and technical support since 2002 when the vessels were introduced to the fleet.
“Keeping in mind the IMO’s stringent emission targets for the future, TT-Line has opted for LNG fuelled ferries,” Mr Dwyer said.
“Wärtsilä’s depth of experience and broad portfolio of LNG-fuel solutions for marine applications were prime considerations for us.”
Wärtsilä Marine Power general manager Mikko Mannerkorpi said the company would extend its best technical and operational support to TT-Line’s new ferries.
“Wärtsilä has played a major role in enabling LNG to become a viable and increasingly popular marine fuel, and its adoption by global operators continues to grow. This order is a clear reflection of that trend,” Mr Mannerkorpi said.
Rauma Marine Constructions president and CEO Jyrki Heinimaa said the company’s goal is to be a pioneer in environmentally sustainable technology in shipbuilding.
“The LNG-powered engines play an important part in building two new eco-efficient and future-proof vessels for TT-Line,” Mr Heinimaa said.
