WÄRTSILÄ
The Francisco has successfully passed sea trials and is ready to begin commercial operations
Finnish engineering company Wärtsilä has provided the waterjets for what is claimed to be the world’s fastest high speed ferry.
In addition to two of its axial waterjets, Wärtsilä has also supplied an advanced propulsion control system for the Francisco.
The 99-metre catamaran reached speeds of 58.1 knots (107.6 km/h) in recent trials.
The ship was built by the Australian shipyard Incat Tasmania Pty Ltd on behalf of South American operator Buquebus. It will transport both passengers and cars between Uruguay and Argentina.
According to Incat, there is no vessel afloat that can reach these speeds and that is able to carry 1,000 passengers and 150 cars.
The ferry will have an operating speed of 50 knots, and in crossing the River Plate (Rio de la Plata) at high speed, the ferry will be able to viably compete with air traffic between Uruguay and Argentina.
— The Francisco will be the largest catamaran to be operated by Buquebus, and the fastest, environmentally cleanest, and most efficient high speed ferry in the world, says Juan Carlos Lopez Mena, President at Buquebus.
It is the first fast ferry to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel.
The Wärtsilä equipment was supplied at the end of 2012, and commissioning of the vessel took place in early 2013
VL
News courtesy of Finnfacts / Good News! from Finland