Norwegian ferry company Fjord Line has completed the retrofit of two of its ships from LNG-only engines to dual-fuel LNG / marine gas oil (MGO) engines.
As announced at the end of 2022, the company decided to convert its two LNG-operated ships, MS Stavangerfjord and MS Bergensfjord ferries, which started operating in 2013 and 2014, to dual-fuel LNG/MGO engines due to increases in the LNG fuel costs and a “non-sustainable financial situation”.
Following retrofit at Norwegian Fosen Yard, MS Stavangerfjord returned to service on 26 May and sailed to Stavanger, where she bunkered LNG for the first time since December 2022.
MS Bergensfjord is expected to be back in operation from 16 June. The two ships operate between Bergen, Stavanger, Hirtshals and Kristiansand.
“We are very much looking forward to returning and welcoming the guests on board again. Especially, we are pleased that it will now be possible to travel on a cruise with us to or from Kristiansand,” said Brian Thorsted Hansen , CEO of Fjord Line.
Thorsted Hansen added that the new engines ensure greater flexibility in operation, which benefits the company’s customers.