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Αustralian owner orders LNG-powered RoRo ferry from FSG

Germany's Flensburger-Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) has signed a contract with the Australian shipping company SeaRoad for an LNG-powered RoRo ferry newbuilding. With a length of 181m and a breadth of 26.6m, the vessel will offer more than 1,960 lane metres. Its speed will be 20.5 knots.

According to FSG's managing director Peter Sierk, it is the first time that the shipyard has an Australian customer.

The first RoRo ferry of this size with LNG propulsion is designed to provide regular liner service between Melbourne on the Australian mainland and Devonport on the island of Tasmania. It will feature a particularly flexible cargo carrying capability and be in a position to transport containers, including reefer units, trailers, cars and hazardous cargo as well as livestock, FSG said. Additionally, the shipyard noted, the vessel will be able to transport reefer containers and hazardous cargo side by side, due to a special concept developed by FSG.

The liquefied natural gas is taken on board the ship in mobile tanks during regular ship loading and unloading. Once on board, the tanks are secured and become fixed ship fuel tanks without the need for any transshipment thanks to a special locking system, which was also developed by FSG.

Construction at FSG will start in September 2015 and the vessel will be delivered in the third quarter of 2016.