Engineers and Geoscientists BC

Symposium Explores Canadian Ship Design for Dual-Fuelled LNG Ferries

Posted on March 18, 2017
Symposium Explores Canadian Ship Design for Dual-Fuelled LNG Ferries

On March 16, APEGBC’s Sea to Sky Branch and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers’ Pacific Northwest division presented a symposium on Canadian ship design for dual-fueled liquid natural gas (LNG)–propulsion ferries. Eighty members attended the joint presentation.  

The presenters comprised experts on LNG ship design, construction, and fleet handling.

Tony Vollmers, P.Eng., is Vard Marine Inc.’s lead mechanical engineer for the Canadian polar icebreaker project, the Royal Canadian Navy Arctic and offshore patrol vessel concept design, the US Coast Guard offshore patrol cutter project, and the current Chilean icebreaker design. He is also involved in the Société des traversiers du Québec’s 94-metre ferries being built by Davie, Harvey Gulf’s LNG platform supply vessel, Seaspan’s dual-fuel trailer ferry, and the ongoing BC Ferries Spirit Class LNG conversion. 

Tony introduced the symposium attendees to the latest information about using LNG in ferry fuel systems, including existing safety assessments and integration of onshore and shipboard system requirements. He also outlined how standards for on-deck refueling and in-ship storage are developing in concert with the design process.

BC Ferries Corporation’s Director of Engineering Services Greg Peterson provided an overview of the feasablity evaluation and decision making process to choose LNG.  He then discussed the new LNG ferries going into service, the mid-life refit of the Spirit Class ferries, and the training that is required for employees at all levels because of the use of LNG fuel on ferries. With 27 years at BC Ferries, Greg’s experience includes maintenance and engineering projects, technical investigations, environment management, and regulatory regimes.

Calum McClure, P.Eng., who has more than 15 years of experience working on LNG projects and served with Teekay Corporation—which owns the world’s second-largest independently owned LNG fleets—reviewed transportation,  storage vessels, safe handling  and training for LNG-fuel handling for gas release and fire suppression in Canada

by John Morgan, P.Eng., FEC, APEGBC Sea to Sky Branch