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Finnish firm Wärtsilä is to supply the main propulsion generating sets for a new, environmentally friendly, double-ended ferry. The ship, which is set to be the first gas-fuelled ferry for a domestic route in Denmark, will operate between Jutland and the island of Samsø and will carry passengers, cars and trucks.

The vessel has been designed by the Danish company OSK-ShipTech A/S and will be built for the Danish municipality Samsø Kommune by Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Gdansk, Poland. Wärtsilä signed the contract in June.

The ferry will be powered by four Wärtsilä 20DF dual-fuel engines running on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and, according to Wärtsilä, will have extremely low emission levels.

The dual-fuel engine technology pioneered by Wärtsilä is designed to allow a seamless switch to conventional marine fuels if necessary, thus providing the operator with a high level of redundancy.

The new ferry project is being closely monitored by other municipalities and governmental bodies in Denmark and abroad. Samsø Kommune actively promotes environmental sustainability through its 'Green Island' image featuring renewable energy, low pollution and recycling activities. The vessel is scheduled to be operational in autumn 2014.

The new ferry will be one of the smallest ships to be powered by Wärtsilä 20DF engines and the design of the 100-metre long double-ended ship is tailored to its operating profile and route. It is set to be the first Danish ferry to operate on LNG fuel. LNG bunkering is planned to take place at Hou harbour in Jutland.

"The overriding priorities for the owners were to achieve the highest possible level of operational reliability to support the local business but with focus on environmental sustainability, which, among others, means to ensure excellent overall efficiency in energy consumption. By selecting Wärtsilä technology these aims will be met, and we are delighted to be a partner in this trend setting project," commented Aaron Bresnahan, Vice President Sales, Wärtsilä Ship Power.