Finland’s Wartsila has secured a contract to supply dual-fuel engines and fuel gas supply systems for two new LNG-powered Ropax ferries being built for French operator La Meridionale, a unit of CMA CGM.
The vessels, designed by Deltamarin, will be built at the China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai), and will operate between Marseille and Corsica.
Wartsila said in a statement the order was booked in April this year, but it did not provide the price of the deal.
For each ship, Wartsila will supply two 12-cylinder, one 10-cylinder, and one 8-cylinder Wartsila 31DF engines.
Also, the two ferries will benefit from Wartsila’s NextDF technology, which will be implemented in the 31DF engines, it said.
Whilst operating on LNG, the NextDF version of the 31DF “further reduces methane emissions and nitrogen oxide (NOx) significantly compared to the already emission-efficient standard Wartsila 31DF,” the firm said.
The scope of Wartsila’s supply for this contract also includes the LNGPac, a fuel gas supply system for LNG-fueled ships, as well as Wartsila’s thrusters.
Wartsila said the equipment for these ferries is scheduled to be delivered in mid-2025.
The 180-metre-long ships will be able to accommodate 1,000 passengers as well as cargo freight, and are expected to enter service during the first half of 2027.