The first ever newbuild LNG fuelled German seagoing vessel had its maiden voyage on 11 December 11.
The ship has been built at the Fr. Fassmer shipyard in Germany.
LNG Passenger Ferry
The passenger ferry, owned by Reederei Cassen Eils GmbH, will operate between Cuxhaven and the island of Helgoland. This route takes the vessel close to the Unesco World Heritage listed Wadden Sea National Park, an ecologically sensitive area in the south-eastern part of the North Sea. Because of the need to minimise exhaust gas emissions in this area, the ferry will operate primarily on LNG using two 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF medium-speed dual-fuel engines.
LNG Propulsion Installation
In addition to the propulsion machinery comprised of the two engines, two gearboxes and two controllable pitch propellers, Wärtsilä has also supplied the vessel's LNGPac fuel bunkering and gas supply system with related safety and automation systems. The ferry is also equipped Wärtsilä's patented Cold Recovery System, which utilises the latent heat of LNG for the ship's air conditioning systems, thereby reducing the amount of electricity consumed in cooling compressors.
Wärtsilä earlier retrofitted the company's Ostfriesland, a car and passenger ferry, for LNG operation. The retrofitted vessel had its maiden voyage on June 17.
Picture: The LNG fuelled passenger ferry will operate between Cuxhaven and the island of Helgoland.
