Canada’s first LNG ferry

The Canadian ferry operator Société des traversiers du Québec’s (STQ) new NM F.A. Gauthier will replace the diesel ferry NM Camille-Marcoux on the Matane-Baie-Comeau-Godbout route.

The new 133m ferry is one of three new LNG fuelled ships which will be supplied with gas by Gaz Métro, the other two ships will serve the Tadoussac-Baie-Sainte-Catherine crossing.

Georges Farrah, STQ president and CEO, said: “This agreement is an important step for the future commissioning of our three new ferries utilising green technologies. The many advantages of natural gas, including a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, led us to choose this fuel. Moreover, the STQ is determined to play an active role in the Québec Government’s collective sustainable development strategy.”

F.A. Gauthier sailed to Canada following completion at the Fincantieri yard in Naples this past spring.

The ferry has four Wärtsilä 34DF dual fuel engines and is equipped with Wärtsilä’s LNGPac liquefied natural gas fuel system.

STQ said that when compared with marine diesel, the new ferries will cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 25%, they will also virtually eliminate fine particle emissions and other air pollutants.

A Québec Government corporation, the Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ) operates eight ferries along the St. Lawrence River and has a fleet of 17 ships.