BC Ferries awards $165 million contract for LNG powered vessels

Transport and Related Services

BC Ferries has contract awarded a $165 million contract to build three new vessels powered by Liqufied Natural Gas (LNG) to a Polish company.

The ferry corporation announced July 3, that Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A of Gdansk, Poland bags the contract after the only B.C.-based shipyard, Vancouver’s Seaspan shipyard was shortlisted in the bidding process but withdrew their application due to commitments to the federal government.

The whole project is estimated at $252 million with $51 million dedicated to cover taxes and federal import duties when the ferries are supplied to the West Coast commencing in August 2016.

The last ferry is expected to arrive in February 2014, while all three will be capable to operate on either diesel or LNG.

Up to seven vessels of this specific class to be engaged in the fleet within the next coming years. The bidding processing did not entirely based on dollar figures. Instead, BC Ferries was drawn to Remontowa’s bid as a result of their experience with LNG-powered vessels. The dual-fuel proficient vessels provides low fueling costs and deducts environmental impacts, says, BC Ferries vice-president of engineering Mark Wilson.Read complete story at http://www.tendersontime.com/blog-detail/bc-ferrieswards-165-million-contract-lng-powered-vessels-110.php