Davie Shipbuilding, Canada’s largest shipyard, said it has recently delivered what it claims to be the first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ferry to be built in North America.
The LNG-powered ferry Armand Imbeau II equipped with icebreaking capability will be able to operate year round on the St. Lawrence River on the Tadoussac-Baie-Sainte-Catherine route.
The vessel has been in the development for more than six years.
“Delivering this prototype has taken years of work by Davie, the designers and the classification society, who have had to develop construction and operations rules and regulations during the construction in order to cater for this new type of propulsion system,” the shipbuilder said in a statement.
The vessel is the first in a series of two dual-fuel LNG Ro-Pax ferries being built for Société des traversiers du Québec.
Measuring 92 metres long, each ship includes eight rows on two decks, enabling the transport of up to 110 vehicles, including tractor-trailers, according to Davie Shipbuilding.