Coming soon: German LNG-powered Ferries
Germany’s AG-Ems is preparing to put two liquefied natural gas-diesel dual fuel ferries into operation for the summer season in the North Sea for the first time. They both are powered by Wärtsilä 20DF engines, with fuel to be supplied by Bomin Linde.
The 305-foot Ostfriesland is in the final stages of conversion to LNG power at Germany’s BVT (Brenn-und-Verformungstechnik Bremen GmbH) shipyard using two 6-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF dual-fuel generating sets driving an electric propulsion system. Ostfriesland has a Wärtsilä LNGPac fuel system.
According to AG-Ems technical director Claus Hirsh, the retrofitted ferry is to resume service between Germany’s Emden (west of Hamburg) and Borkum Island in the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park in April. Ostfriesland has all-natural gas lean-burn auxiliary engines by Mitsubishi.
Meanwhile, the two German LNG ship propulsion projects are running late but owners AG Ems say that is not a bad thing given the pioneering nature of the new technology.
The €13 million “technically challenging” conversion of the ferry Ostfriesland to LNG propulsion, along with parallel lengthening, had originally been due for completion at Bremen’s BVT Shipyard last November. But according to AG Ems sources, the first German flag ferry fuelled by LNG, would not now enter service until March.
Bomin Linde is building LNG terminals in Germany to support AG-Ems and other customers