Rolls-Royce to deliver LNG engine for Balearia’s ferry

Rolls-Royce said it has signed a collaboration agreement with Gas Natural Fenosa to develop and install a pure-gas Bergen engine aboard the Baleària-operated ferry Abel Matutes.

The contract gives Rolls-Royce its first reference for a pure-gas engine installation on a European-flagged ferry operating outside of Norwegian waters, the company said in a statement.

The 29,670 tonne ROPAX ferry, delivered in 2010 from the Hijos de J Barreras shipyard in Vigo, Spain, will use an LNG-fuelled Rolls-Royce Bergen C26:33 L6 AG auxiliary engine to generate 1560kWe of clean power, dramatically reducing emissions during port stays in Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca.

Baleària and Rolls-Royce aim to carry out pre-installation work at the beginning of 2015, prior to the vessel’s scheduled dry docking later in the year. The new engine will be fully integrated into the electricity plant on the vessel, enabling operation with any of the on-board auxiliaries. Testing and implementation work is expected to take place towards the end of next year.

When Abel Matutes is in port, the gas engine will be connected to the distribution infrastructure ashore or the LNG tank located on-board. The ferry will also consume natural gas during approach and departure manoeuvres to generate electricity, replacing the heavy fuel oil previously used for this purpose.

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Image: Rolls-Royce