Image: BC Ferries

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The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) reports that it was responsible for classing the Spirit of British Columbia, which has just completed its conversion for LNG operation and has been back in operation since last Thursday.

The Spirit of British Columbia was the first of two 'Spirit-class' ships to undergo conversion, while its sister vessel, the Spirit of Vancouver Island, is expected to have its conversion completed during the spring of 2019.

The two vessels are the largest ships in BC Ferries' fleet with a capacity to carry 2,100 passengers and crew. Together, they consume approximately 16 percent of BC Ferries' fuel annually.

As previously reported, the Spirit of British Columbia was removed from service on September 6 and conversion to LNG fuel was completed at the Remontowa Ship Repair Yard in Gdansk, Poland.

Now that the conversion to dual-fuel has been completed, the vessel is able to operate on LNG or ultra-low sulphur marine diesel (ULSD).

"The conversion of these vessels to operate on LNG is an important milestone for BC Ferries and the region, supporting more efficient and environmentally-friendly transportation," said ABS Vice President for Global Gas Solutions, Patrick Janssens. "With the increased pressure for environmental compliance, LNG as fuel is a practical option for many marine owners and operators."

BC Ferries Vice President of Strategy and Community Engagement, Mark Wilson, remarked: "We are excited to welcome the Spirit of British Columbia back into our fleet and the environmental benefits and efficiency advantages that come with its conversion. We worked closely with ABS who helped us navigate the technical compliance challenges of converting existing vessels to run on LNG and played a key role in bringing this project to fruition."

Recognizing the changing landscape and increased industry focus on gas, ABS launched its Global Gas Solutions team in 2013 to support industry in developing gas-related projects. The ABS Global Gas Solutions service provides guidance in LNG floating structures and systems, gas fuel systems and equipment, gas carriers, and regulatory and statutory requirements.