France-headquartered international classification society Bureau Veritas has congratulated owners Seaspan as their new emission reducing ferry enters service between the British Columbia mainland and Vancouver Island, Canada.
‘Seaspan Swift’ is Seaspan Ferries Corporation’s (SFC) new dual-fuelled / hybrid - diesel, liquefied natural gas and battery powered ferry. The new ferry is the first hybrid LNG fuelled and battery powered vessel in service and the first LNG fuelled vessel operating on the west coast of Canada. Additionally, the on-board bunkering of LNG from a truck trailer is a first in North America.
Designed by VARD Marine, the 148.9m vessel is the first of two to be constructed at Sedef Shipbuilding, Turkey. Following a 10,661 nautical mile delivery voyage to the SFC Tilbury Terminal in Delta, Vancouver, Seaspan Swift underwent pre-operation regulatory checks and crew training in December. A sister vessel, Seaspan Reliant – also classed by Bureau Veritas, will also arrive on the West Coast early in 2017.
Steve Roth, Vice President Seaspan Ferries commenting said, ‘We are happy to be working with Bureau Veritas on this technical LNG / Hybrid project. Their partnership with Seaspan Ferries has helped make the design, approval, production and delivery of the vessels a success.’
Bureau Veritas says it now holds a leading share of LNG as fuel related marine projects – across a range of specialized ship types, including the growing LNG bunkering vessel sector.
By Jake Frith
