Grandi Navi Veloci will be obliged to install scrubbers, rather than using LNG as a fuel on the new ferries ordered earlier this year at Guangzhou Shipyard International shipyard. Reason: the port of Genoa will not be able to provide gas for ships in the next few years.

This is what Antonio Campagnuolo, Marine operations director of the ferry company controlled by MSC Group, said at a conference held in Genoa, and organized by the local Propeller Club. “Genoa is proceeding too slowly on that project,” he said while talking about the plan to open a LNG station for bunkering ships.

“For our new ferries set to be built in China, our idea was originally to opt for gas but, at least for the first units (further two ships are in option), this will not be possible, mainly because on the routes we cover there is still a lack of LNG facilities.”

Campagnuolo concluded saying that “scrubbers will then be installed on the first new ferries in order to be compliant with the new rules on low sulphur emission coming into force from 2020”.

The four ro-pax vessels (plus further four units in options) jointly ordered in China by GNV and Onorato Armatori will have capacity for 2,500 passengers and crew and offer 3,765 lane metres. The first and third ships will be delivered to Grandi Navi Veloci, while Onorato will take delivery of the other two. The first vessel will come into service late in 2020.

Written by Nicola Capuzzo