Wärtsilä supplying first LNG RoPax vessels in Poland

Wärtsilä will supply engines, fuel storage and supply systems for the first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled RoPax vessels in the Polish maritime sector.

The order from Remontowa shipyard in Poland is for three vessels, which will be operated by ferry companies Unity Line and Polferries.

The vessels will each operate with four Wärtsilä 31DF dual-fuel engines. The LNG-fuelled engines can use bio-LNG, either on its own or blended with conventional LNG, to further reduce their carbon footprint. The operators intend to run the vessels entirely on bio-LNG by 2025.

The new Polish RoPax vessels will operate on LNG fuel with Wärtsilä 31DF dual-fuel engines. (Image: Polsteam)

The efficiency of the four-stroke 31DF engine was a key consideration in the award of this contract, Wärtsilä said. Wärtsilä will also deliver its LNGPac fuel storage, supply, and control system.

“High efficiency and sustainability are essential in today’s operating environment, especially in the Baltic Sea which is an Emissions Control Area,” said Grzegorz Wardzyński, technical director of Polsteam, the parent company of Unity Line. “The Wärtsilä 31 engine represents the latest engine technology available and this, coupled with Wärtsilä’s vast experience in LNG solutions, made the choice easy for us.”

Wärtsilä said it sees LNG as an important transitional marine fuel, bridging the gap between conventional diesel fuels and future carbon-free alternatives.

“Decarbonization is a front and center issue for the maritime sector, and this focus is reflected in the choice of the Wärtsilä engines for these ferries. Optimal engine performance is essential in maximizing fuel efficiency and minimizing exhaust emissions. These new vessels will become an important part of Poland’s transport infrastructure, and we are proud to be a partner to this project,” said Matthias Becker, general manager, Sales, Wärtsilä Marine Power.

The vessels will have an overall length of 195 m and will be capable of carrying 400 passengers, with 4,00 lane metres for vehicles. They will operate between Swinoujscie in Poland and the Swedish ports of Ystad and Trelleborg.