Maiden voyage for Germany’s first newbuild LNG-powered seagoing vessel
The LNG-fuelled passenger ferry will operate between Cuxhaven and the island of Helgoland
The ship was built at the Fr. Fassmer shipyard in Germany.
Owned by Reederei Cassen Eils GmbH, the 83m-long and 12.6m-wide passenger ferry will operate between Cuxhaven and the island of Helgoland.
The route takes the vessel close to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wadden Sea National Park, an ecologically sensitive area in the south-eastern part of the North Sea. Because of the need to minimise exhaust gas emissions in this area, the ferry will operate primarily on LNG using two nine-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF medium-speed dual-fuel engines. “We are very proud to be operating the first newbuild German vessel fuelled by LNG. Compared with conventional diesel fuel, this ship will produce 20% less CO2, 90% less NOx, and almost zero SOx and particulates,” said Dr Bernhard Brons, managing director of Reederei Cassen Eils GmbH and CEO of AG EMS.
In addition to the propulsion machinery comprising the two engines, two gearboxes and two controllable pitch propellers, Wärtsilä has supplied its LNGPac fuel bunkering and gas supply system with related safety and automation systems.
Reederei Cassen Eils is a member of the AG EMS group of companies. Wärtsilä had already retrofitted the company’s Ostfriesland car and passenger ferry for LNG operation. The retrofitted vessel had its maiden voyage in June.
