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A new fast ro-pax ferry ordered by the Estonia-based Tallink Grupp for its Tallinn - Helsinki route is to feature Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines running primarily on liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The ship is to be built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland and is scheduled to be in operation from the beginning of 2017. The contract with Wärtsilä was signed in February 2015.

By opting for Wärtsilä's industry leading dual-fuel (DF) engine technology with LNG used as the main fuel, the ship will comply with the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) latest sulphur emissions legislation which came into force in January 2015.

The Baltic Sea is designated as a Sulphur Emissions Control Area (SECA). When operating in gas mode, the sulphur oxide (SOx) and particle emissions from the Wärtsilä DF engines are said to be negligible at almost zero percent. Furthermore, the nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are at least 85 percent below those specified in the current IMO regulations, and CO2 emissions are some 25 percent less than those of a conventional marine engine running on diesel fuel, according to Wärtsilä.

The full scope of supply includes three 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 50DF and two 6-cylinder Wärtsilä 50DF main engines, as well as two Wärtsilä fixed pitch propellers and propeller shaft lines. The equipment is scheduled be delivered to the yard in early 2016.

"The ferry will operate at fairly high speed and to very tight schedules. It is, therefore, important to the customer that the main engine propulsion is highly efficient and extremely reliable. Wärtsilä's extensive track record is proof of our ability to meet these criteria. At the same time, we are the leading supplier of gas fuelled solutions to the marine industry and this was another reason for being awarded this important contract," commented Mika Ojutkangas, General manager, Sales, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

"The Wärtsilä engines are more energy efficient and thus consume less fuel, and for a next generation environmentally sustainable ferry that is what we were especially looking for," remarked Tarvi-Carlos Tuulik, Head of Shipmanagement of AS Tallink Grupp.

The new 212-metre-long ferry will have a gross tonnage of 49,000 and carry 2800 passengers.

The Wärtsilä 50DF engine

The engine can be run on either natural gas, light fuel oil (LFO), or heavy fuel oil (HFO). It is designed to smoothly switch between fuels whilst operating, and also provide the same output regardless of the fuel.

Both the gas admission and pilot fuel injection are electronically controlled. The engine functions are controlled by an advanced automation system that allows optimal running conditions to be set, independent of the ambient conditions or fuel type.

The 50DF engine is designed to allow use of Wärtsilä's remote diagnosis and dynamic maintenance planning solutions. Wärtsilä says that these features offer owners a "significant reduction in operating costs" by applying predictive maintenance principles and by optimising engine performance.

"One of the reasons for the strong success of this particular engine over the alternatives is its superior propulsion efficiency. The clear environmental advantages that operating on gas allows, is another factor in the success of this technology," Wärtsila added.