After having completed the liquified natural gas sea trials, the F.-A.-Gauthier ferry built by Fincantieri in its shipyard in Castellammare di Stabia, left the yard on Wednesday sailing to Matane, in Québec, Canada.
The delivery to Société des traversiers du Québec will take place when the ferry arrives in Canada, Fincantieri said in a statement.
The new vessel is the first LNG-powered ferry ever built in Italy and the first of the kind to enter into service in North America.
This ship, which is equipped with anintegrated diesel-electric propulsion system has four dual-fuel diesel power generators installed and it can run on either LNG or marine diesel oil. This propulsion system fully meets the ecological requirements of the ECA areas (Baltic Sea, North Sea, Caribbean, North America), according to the statement.
The ship is also in ice class 1A with regards to the hull and propulsion class 1AS, which are the highest levels awarded by these classification registries and which allow the vessel to operate non-stop in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, known for its adverse weather conditions. “F.-A.-Gauthier” is also able to break sea ice, thanks to its Fincantieri patented bow and stern.
The ferry’s two electric propulsion engines operate azimuth thrusters, each equipped with two Countra-Rotating propellers.
133 metres long and 22 metres wide, “F.-A.-Gauthier” will be able to reach a maximum service speed of 20 knots and to carry 800 passengers and 180 vehicles. The ferry will be used in the Province of Québec on the Matane–Baie-Comeau–Godbout route, which, with 1,600 sailings per year, provides transport for more than 180,000 passengers and over 85,000 vehicles, allowing them to reach the opposite side of the river in a 2-hour navigation, instead of a 10-hour drive.
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Image: STQ