Wärtsilä is to provide a complete LNG package for two new ferries being built for Japanese-based Ferry Sunflower, a subsidiary of Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL).
The ships are being built at Mitsubishi’s Shimonoseki shipyard and will be the first LNG-fuelled ferries to be built in Japan.
Wärtsilä’s involvement includes a Wärtsilä 31DF engine, gearbox, and LNGPac storage, supply and control system and the order was booked in the second quarter of 2020.
This newbuilding project was adopted for Japan’s energy conservation rating system for coastal ships, a demonstration test programme to enhance operational efficiency.
Wärtsilä’s 31DF dual-fuel engine was chosen specifically because of its very high efficiency. It also provides safe and continuous gas mode operation, which were other key requirements in the specification, the company claimed.
“Wärtsilä’s vast experience and knowhow in LNG solutions for the marine sector is again recognised with this landmark order for the first Japanese built LNG-fuelled ferries. We are able to offer LNG-based products and systems having a proven design and high performance, with a strong reference list that supports our value proposition,” said Keisuke Yasutake, Area Sales Manager, Wärtsilä Japan.
“MOL is dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of its business activities, and these two ferries are being built in line with that objective. By operating on LNG they will have a greatly reduced carbon footprint, and the high performance Wärtsilä engine fits our requirements perfectly,” Makoto Yamaguchi, General Manager, Technical Division, Mitsui OSK Lines added.
At around 200 m long ‘Sunflower Kurenai’ and ‘Sunflower Murasaki’ will be capable of carrying about 763 pax, 136 trucks and 100 passenger cars, at a speed of 22.5 knots. They are scheduled to commence operations in 2023 on the Osaka/Beppu route.
Wärtsilä said that it had a lengthy and strong relationships with both MOL and Mitsubishi. The latter, for example, has delivered ferries, LNGCs, and a seismic research vessel fitted with Wärtsilä engines.
