The Mediterranean ferry company Baleària said it will invest €60 million ($70.2 million) over the next to years to retrofit five ferries to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and is planning to further expand its gas-powered fleet.
The use of LNG in these five vessels — Naples, Abel Matutes, Sicily, Bahama Mama and Martin i Soler — is expected to reduce more than 45,000 tons of CO2 annually, 4,400 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and eliminate sulfur and particulate emissions completely.
Naples will be the first ferry to adapt the gas propulsion, with conversion work planned for the winter months, Baleària said in a press release.
In addition to the gas remotorization of these five ferries, the company is also studying two other LNG projects and is building two smart ships at the Visentini shipyard in Italy, the first of which will be operational as of next February.
Adolfo Utor, President of Baleària, revealed that the company plans to have nine ships sailing on LNG within three years.