The Alicante-based company will complete in the next days the purchase of ‘Foners’ boat after receiving the approval from Fundatur regarding the €2.2 million offer made in January. The interest of the company is based on the engine of the yacht, and especially on its five turbines, which have a power of 5,000 kW each and use diesel as a fuel.
Baleària and Rolls Royce, which have been leading a pioneer project since late 2012 on various engineering studies and conversion to natural gas in vessels, are evaluating the conversion of Foners’ turbines to LNG and install them for commercial purposes in one of the company’s fast-ferries.
The company president, Adolfo Utor, said Baleària is betting on the use of natural gas applied to the fleet: “We are conducting various studies to convert some of our high-speed vessels.” In this sense, Utor notes that “the use of LNG, instead of diesel, can reduce 25% of CO2 emissions and other pollutant emissions, while allowing lower fuel costs.”
The yacht ‘Foners’ is expected to be converted with conventional equipment of 4,000 Kw power, which enables the ship to reach speed above 20 knots, but with a more sustainable consumption and maintenance, in accordance with this kind of recreational boats.
Source: Baleària.
