The new Molslinjen high-speed ferry will be built at the Austal yard in the Philippines and will feature a combination of Wartsila propulsion solutions. Credit: Austal Ships Pty Ltd.

Marine technology company Wartsila has received an order to provide propulsion solutions for a new 115m-long high-speed ferry.

The ferry is being built for Danish operator Molslinjen by Austal at its shipyard in the Philippines.

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The vessel will be equipped with four Wartsila 31 engines and four WXJ1500SRI waterjets. The company will also provide its ProTouch bridge controls system.

Wartsila Marine Power Solutions vice-president Stefan Nysjö said: “This combination of the Wartsila 31 engine and WXJ waterjets is unique for fast ferries, delivering exceptional fuel efficiency, reliability, quality and performance.

“This is an exciting project and we are honoured to have been selected to provide the level of propulsion demanded.”

The ferry will accommodate 1,610 passengers along with space for 450 cars or 617 lane metres for trucks and 257 cars. The vessel can operate at speeds of 37k.

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Austal Philippines president Wayne Murray said: “The size of the vessel together with the speed and propulsion efficiency makes this a very special project.

“It will be, by volume, the largest ferry ever built in our shipyards and it will offer a powerful, yet economical and environmentally friendly solution.”

Molslinjen technical director Flemming Kristensen said: “We have Wartsila waterjets on several of our fast ferries, so we are familiar with the quality and performance they deliver. We are also familiar with the Wartsila 31 engine, which is really in a class of its own with regards to efficiency.”

The equipment is expected to be delivered by July next year, while the ferry will be delivered by 2022.

Earlier this week, Wartsila launched an upgraded FuelFlex Injection Control Unit (ICU) solution.

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