Canadian ferry operator, BC Ferries, has postponed the mid-life upgrades and LNG conversion for its two Spirit Class vessels, which were initially scheduled to start in the fall of 2016, for one year. Originally, BC Ferries was planning the mid-life upgrade and LNG conversion for the Spirit of Vancouver Island to occur in the fall of 2016 through the spring of 2017 and the Spirit of British Columbia’s project the following year. However, BC Ferries says it is deferring the project for one year to ensure sufficient equipment procurement lead times, detailed engineering and necessary regulatory approvals, and perform additional financial due diligence. ”Due to the complexity of this major project, we need more time for engineering design to ensure we meet our own high standards for delivering major capital projects on-time and on budget,” said Mark Wilson, BC Ferries’ Vice President of Engineering. ”The Spirit-Class vessels are our biggest assets operating on the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route, which is the busiest route in the fleet and these ships are critical to our operation so project management and risk mitigation are extremely important.” With the new schedule, BC Ferries is planning for the Spirit of British Columbia to be the first ship through the MLU and LNG conversion process and commence actual conversion from the fall of 2017 through the spring of 2018, and the Spirit of Vancouver Island’s to follow the following year from the fall of 2018 through the spring of 2019. BC Ferries also said that the company has shortlisted three shipyards for the postponed upgrades and LNG conversion. Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards, Remontowa SA of Poland and Fincantieri of Italy were shortlisted from the five shipyards that responded to BC Ferries request for proposals process. One of these three shipyards will be awarded the contract by the late fall of 2015, BC Ferries said. Last fiscal year, BC Ferries spent approximately CAD 125 million on fuel of which the two Spirit Class vessels consumed approximately 15 per cent. The conversion of the two largest ships in the fleet to dual-fuel, along with the three new LNG-powered intermediate class vessels currently under construction at Remontowa, is expected to lead to operational savings and environmental benefits. -Source: worldmaritimenews.com
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Canadian ferry operator, BC Ferries, has postponed the mid-life upgrades and LNG conversion for its two Spirit Class vessels, which were initially scheduled to start in the fall of 2016, for one year.
Originally, BC Ferries was planning the mid-life upgrade and LNG conversion for the Spirit of Vancouver Island to occur in the fall of 2016 through the spring of 2017 and the Spirit of British Columbia’s project the following year.
However, BC Ferries says it is deferring the project for one year to ensure sufficient equipment procurement lead times, detailed engineering and necessary regulatory approvals, and perform additional financial due diligence.
”Due to the complexity of this major project, we need more time for engineering design to ensure we meet our own high standards for delivering major capital projects on-time and on budget,” said Mark Wilson, BC Ferries’ Vice President of Engineering.
”The Spirit-Class vessels are our biggest assets operating on the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route, which is the busiest route in the fleet and these ships are critical to our operation so project management and risk mitigation are extremely important.”
With the new schedule, BC Ferries is planning for the Spirit of British Columbia to be the first ship through the MLU and LNG conversion process and commence actual conversion from the fall of 2017 through the spring of 2018, and the Spirit of Vancouver Island’s to follow the following year from the fall of 2018 through the spring of 2019.
BC Ferries also said that the company has shortlisted three shipyards for the postponed upgrades and LNG conversion.
Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards, Remontowa SA of Poland and Fincantieri of Italy were shortlisted from the five shipyards that responded to BC Ferries request for proposals process. One of these three shipyards will be awarded the contract by the late fall of 2015, BC Ferries said.
Last fiscal year, BC Ferries spent approximately CAD 125 million on fuel of which the two Spirit Class vessels consumed approximately 15 per cent. The conversion of the two largest ships in the fleet to dual-fuel, along with the three new LNG-powered intermediate class vessels currently under construction at Remontowa, is expected to lead to operational savings and environmental benefits.
-Source: worldmaritimenews.com