Bergensford and sister ship shall be transformed from single-fuel LNG operation to dual-fuel LNG/MGO
Norwegian cruise ferry operator Fjord Line AS is to transform sister ships MS Stavangerfjord and MS Bergensfjord from single-fuel LNG-engines to dual-fuel LNG/MGO-engines.
“The energy crisis, caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has led to extraordinary volatility and significant price increases in LNG – and the price increases have been far higher than for traditional and less sustainable energy sources at sea,” says Fjord Line. It notes that it receives no authorities energy-related monetary help and says that dramatically elevated power prices for the 2 LNG-fueled ships are “significantly above a financially sustainable level.”
Ironically, as we reported earlier, each Stavangerfjord and Bergensfjord have been initially ordered as dual-fuel vessels, however in July 2012 the shipbuilding contract was amended to make each purely LNG-fueled.
Fjord Line says that, since early fall, the LNG-fueled ships’ departures from Vestlandet in Norway, Denmark, and Langesund in Norway have been decreased and the crossing time has been elevated.
“This is of course not the way Fjord Line intends to operate our routes or the desired customer offering,” says the road. “However, adjustments to our route operations were necessary as a consequence of the extraordinary high fuel costs especially on LNG.”
The two ships shall be transformed from single-fuel LNG-engines to dual-fuel LNG/MGO-engines throughout spring 2023.
The engine conversions will permits the 2 ships to modify between LNG and MGO (marine fuel oil), which is able to guarantee a financially sustainable operation till the LNG-price degree is normalized.
“We are saddened by the necessity for the conversion in direction of use of MGO, regardless of Marine Gas Oil having a big decreased emissions of sulfur than conventional gasoline corresponding to HFO (Heavy Fuel Oil). The conversion is nevertheless vital to keep up our buyer providing, safe workplaces, and to safe the continued growth of Fjord Line, says CEO, Brian Thorsted Hansen.
Apparently the conversions will contain a whole re-engining slightly than a modification of the present engines.
Fjord Line says that the ships are being rebuilt at Fosen Yard and the engines shall be delivered by Wärtsilä.
Rebuilding of Stavangerfjord will begin in January 2023 and shall be finalized by the top of May 2023. Bergensfjord shall be rebuilt throughout February to mid-June 2023.
