Brittany Ferries new LNG-fuelled Salamanca cruise ferry enters Bureau Veritas classification
Bureau Veritas (BV), a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification, has taken delivery into class the brand-new cruise ferry Salamanca, built at China Merchants Jinling in Weihai, China. Powered by natural gas, the 1,015-passenger ferry will be operated by Brittany Ferries on its route between Portsmouth, in the UK, and Bilbao and Santander, in Northern Spain.
The ‘Salamanca’ is the second ‘E-Flexer’ to enter service with Brittany Ferries as part of its commitment to introduce cleaner and more efficient ships to its fleet in the next five years. After its sister ship, Galicia joined the fleet in December 2020, Salamanca will enter service in March 2022 and will be the first to be fuelled by LNG.
With a length of 214.5 metres, Salamanca has been designed with efficiency and the environment in mind. The vessel is equipped with twin Wartsila 12V46DF (dual-fueled) engines, each generating 13,740 kW. Using LNG as a fuel will significantly improve air quality, by virtually eliminating NOx and particulate matter and reducing CO2 emissions. Furthermore, particular attention has been given to its fuel-efficient design, with its long, slender hull and bow, and fine lines delivering excellent seakeeping in all weathers.
The ferry will be supplied with LNG in the ports of Bilbao and Santander, enabling round trips between Spain and Portsmouth.
Brittany Ferries plans to deploy three more LNG-fuelled ve sels in the coming years: Santoña will join the fleet in 2023 on the Portsmouth-Santander-Bilbao route, and two hybrid LNG-electric ships will enter service between France and the United Kingdom in time for the 2025 season.
