Baleària ferry starts undergoing LNG retrofit

Spanish ferry operator Baleària has confirmed that one of the vessels in its fleet has begun undergoing a conversion programme that will enable it to run on LNG.

The Ro-Pax ferry Sicilia will be the company’s sixth vessel to be converted to accommodate dual fuel engines that could operate on either diesel or LNG. It will also be the second ferry in the fleet to be fitted with sensors for real-time monitoring of LNG consumption and emissions.

As with sister vessel Nápoles, Sicilia will be fitted with a 425-cubic-metre LNG fuel tank which is expected to give the ferry a range of 1,770 kilometres.

Sicilia is scheduled to re-enter service with dual fuel LNG engines in June of this year.