Buquebus has ordered the first Ro-Ro LNG-powered ferry.
Australian shipbuilder Incat Tasmania Pty Ltd has identified their client for the world first high speed passenger Ro-Ro ship powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). South American company Buquebus, who up until now had requested not to be identified for commercial reasons, will operate the ferry on their River Plate service between Buenos Aires, Argentina and Montevideo in Uruguay. The contract was signed in November 2010.
Incat Chairman Robert Clifford says “Incat is excited about this project as it represents a significant step in the global move for natural gas powered ships to replace those operated with less environmentally friendly fuels.
Crossing the River Plate (Rio de la Plata) at high speed will allow the ferry service to compete with airline traffic between Uruguay, where the company is based, and Argentina.
The yet to be named vessel is under construction at the Incat shipyard at Prince of Wales Bay at Hobart in Tasmania, Australia. Delivery is anticipated to be in the Southern hemisphere spring of 2012.
The vessel will be the first installation of LNG powered dual fuel engines in an Incat high speed ferry, and 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.
This article compiled using information from an Incat Tasmania Pty Ltd press release.
