Wärtsilä is to convert Totem Ocean Trailer Express’s two Orca class roll-on/roll-off cargo ships, the MV Midnight Sun and MV North Star.
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The company’s scope of work covers equipping each vessel with four 12-cylinder 50DF dual-fuel engines, generator sets and integrated liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage and fuel gas handling systems (LNGPac).
Wärtsilä 50DF engines can be run either on natural gas, light fuel oil or heavy fuel oil, and are designed to give high output with fuel flexibility, low emissions, efficiency and reliability.
The vessels will also be equipped with two 1,100m² LNG fuel storage tanks and the associated automaton and fuel gas handling systems (LNGPac).
In addition, Wärtsilä will oversee the design, engineering and integration of the system, as well as project and site management.
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By GlobalDataThe converted vessels will be the largest ever undertaken in North America.
The Totem Ocean-owned vessels will reduce sulphur oxide emission by 100%, particulate matter by 91%, nitrogen oxide by 90%, and carbon dioxide by 35%, the company said.
Wärtsilä president and CEO Björn Rosengren said that economic constraints and the need to comply with environmental legislation have combined to accelerate the switch to LNG fuel.
“Wärtsilä is uniquely positioned to enable this transition since we have been a leader in developing the appropriate technology for nearly 30 years,” Rosengren said.
“We look forward to working with Totem on converting the Midnight Sun and North Star to LNG, so that they can realise the benefits that LNG as a marine fuel can provide.”
Image: Totem Ocean conversion plans. Photo: courtesy of Wärtsilä.
