An LNG First For The Mediterranean

An Italian ferry with a liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel-gas supply system has entered service in the Mediterranean.

MAN Cryo – MAN Energy Solutions’ marine LNG fuel-gas-system manufacturer – installed the system aboard the Elio at the Sefine Shipyard in Yalova, Turkey.

“This project is of strategic importance since it is the very first RoPax vessel in the Mediterranean to operate on LNG,” said Louise Andersson, Head of MAN Cryo. “It follows MAN’s vision to become a leading supplier in the regions where we see a strong growth of demand for LNG solutions.”

Elio is a double-ended RoPax ferry, designed by LMG Marin, for Italian shipowner Caronte & Tourist. The MAN Cryo system will supply gas to the ferry’s three dual-fuel propulsion engines. The system will primarily operate on the strait of Messina between the Italian mainland and the Sicilian city of Messina.

The main engines are dual-fuel 5L34DF Wärtsiläs that produce 9000 kW.

MAN Cryo’s scope of supply covered:

• vacuum-insulated type C tank – 150 m³ gross volume
• TCS with airlock, valves, piping and vaporization equipment
• bunkering station
• heat-exchanger unit
• freestanding control and emergency shut-down system

The 133-m long and 21.5-m wide ferry will have a capacity of up to 290 cars on two vehicle decks, and 1500 passengers with a service speed of 18.5 knots.

“Caronte & Tourist is very happy with the performance of the LNG system that MAN Energy Solutions has provided,” said Luigi Genghi, General Manager of Caronte & Tourist. “Since Elio is operating on a tight schedule on a daily basis, it is important that the gas-supply system works during all circumstances. In this perspective, MAN Energy Solutions is our trustworthy partner.”