At the end of September, Bomin Linde LNG performed the initial fuelling of the “Searoad Mersey II” RoRo ferry currently under construction at Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG), thus beginning long-term cooperation with FSG for supplying LNG-powered vessels. The Hamburg-based company did the planning, preparation and implementation of the bunkering operation.
This included obtaining the required permits from the port, technical consulting and coordination of the participating parties on site. The tank system of the ferry equipped with four dual fuel engines (two main engines, two gensets) is one of a kind: It does not have its own LNG tanks, but utilizes LNG trailers that are connected to the drive system after being filled with liquefied natural gas. For this new fuelling system, Bomin Linde LNG has created bunker guidelines and safety procedures tailored to international regulations.
“The new tanker-to-tanker process went smoothly and is thus an additional option for using LNG for marine propulsion”, said Günter Eiermann, Technical Director at Bomin Linde LNG. “Following the successful start, I am especially looking forward to further cooperation with Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft.”
“Bomin Linde LNG gives us flexible full service in supplying LNG for initial fuelling. With the fuelling of the “Searoad Mersey II” our long-term cooperation has begun very successfully”, explained Holger Jacobs, project engineer at FSG. “We are already in negotiations for additional newbuildings.”
The initial bunkering with liquefied natural gas took place in Odense, Denmark, where the ferry sailed from on a test run back to Flensburg. After completion, the ship being built for SeaRoad will be the first Australian RoRo ferry with LNG propulsion to operate between Tasmania and Melbourne.
Source: Bomin Linde LNG
