Wärtsilä has won a contract from the Polish Remontowa shipyard to supply engines, fuel storage and supply systems for three new ropaxes.
These will be the first LNG-fuelled ropaxes to be built for the Polish maritime sector. They will be operated by domestic ferry companies Unity Line and Polferries.
Each vessel will be fitted with four Wärtsilä 31DF dual-fuel engines. The LNG-fuelled engines will also be able to use bio-LNG, either on its own or blended with conventional LNG. Both operators intend to run the vessels entirely on bio-LNG by 2025.
Wärtsilä will also deliver its LNGPac fuel storage, supply, and control system.
“High efficiency and sustainability are essential in today’s operating environment, especially in the Baltic Sea which is an Emissions Control Area. The Wärtsilä 31 engine represents the latest engine technology available and this, coupled with Wärtsilä’s vast experience in LNG solutions, made the choice easy for us,” said Grzegorz Wardzyński, Technical Director of Polsteam, Unity Line’s parent.
“De-carbonisation is a front and centre issue for the maritime sector and this focus is reflected in the choice of the Wärtsilä engines for these ferries. Optimal engine performance is essential in maximising fuel efficiency and minimising exhaust emissions. These new vessels will become an important part of Poland’s transport infrastructure, and we are proud to be a partner to this project,” said Matthias Becker, General Manager, Sales, Wärtsilä Marine Power.
The ropaxes will have an overall length of 195 m and will be able of carrying 400 pax, with 4,100 lane metres for vehicles. They will operate between Swinoujscie in Poland and the Swedish ports of Ystad and Trelleborg.
