Norwegian shipbuilding company Vard Shipyard Group has contracted MAN Diesel & Turbo's MAN Cryo unit to provide a fuel-gas supply system (FGSS) for two LNG-fuelled ferries.

MAN Cryo's LNG supply system includes a 175m³ vacuum-insulated storage tank, as well as auxiliary equipment such as an LNG vaporiser, a pressure build-up unit and a bunker station.

The ferries were designed by Norweay-based Multi-Maritime and are set to be operated by Torghatten Nord. 

The vessels will be equipped with a gas-electric, hybrid-propulsion system that features optional fast-charging from shore, and also feature hull shapes that offer enhanced environmental performance, comfort and reliability.

MAN Cryo managing director Mikael Adler said: “We see a clear trend in the market with an increasing number of inquiries for fuel-gas systems.

"MAN Cryo's LNG supply system includes a 175m³ vacuum-insulated storage tank, as well as auxiliary equipment such as an LNG vaporiser and a bunker station."

“This clearly points towards LNG’s positive growth as a choice of fuel.”

The company is currently involved in the development of various cryogenic equipments for marine fuel-gas systems, as well as for offshore and onshore bunkering systems.

MAN Diesel & Turbo previously delivered a new ME-GIE ethane combusting two-stroke engine to its licensee Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding (MES) in Japan last month.

The engine is the first in a planned series of three, and is designed to run on a combination of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and methane or ethane with unchanged gas mode efficiency.

Image: Illustration of the coming double-ended RoPax ferries. Photo: courtesy of Multi-Maritime.