MV F.-A.-Gauthier, the LNG-powered ferry which was built in Italy at the Fincantieri shipyard, arrived at the Matane wharf .
The ferry should begin carrying passengers in July, once STQ personnel have completed the necessary preparation work, the company informed in a statement.
The F.-A.-Gauthier will be the first liquefied natural gas ferry to operate in North America. The new ferry will replace the MV Camille-Marcoux, which would have to reduce its crew and passenger capacity in order to meet the new Transport Canada stability standards that take effect January 1, 2016. The F.-A.-Gauthier not only complies with but actually surpasses new international pollutants emission requirements, according to the statement.
This ship, which is equipped with an integrated 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).
The ship is also in ice class 1A with regards to the hull and propulsion class 1AS, 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.
The ferry’s two electric propulsion engines operate azimuth thrusters, each equipped with two Countra-Rotating propellers.
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LNG World News Staff; Images: Société des traversiers du Québec