Norwegian ferry operator, Fjord1, has ordered what will become the largest gas-powered ferry in the world. The 100-passenger ferry will join a growing number of vessels fuelled from LNG. Fjord1 began operating its first gas powered ferry in 2000, and today is still the only company to operate such vessels. By the end of next year it will have 11 ferries in operation with gas propulsion.

Gas propulsion has proven popular in Norway since the introduction of a tax on NOx emissions from industry. A scheme where the tax is fed into a fund to assist owners in testing or using latest environmental technology has led to the world's first LNG powered fleet as natural gas creates virtually no NOx emissions.

With impending environmental rules there is now international discussion over extending Norway's experiences with natural gas, especially into the Baltic Sea region which legislators are expected to officially turn into an emission control area to cover NOx gases from shipping and so be subject to some very strict rules in the near future.

Source: Lloyd's List