Car Ferry Saves Fuel with New Engines

Northern Norway has a large fleet of small and mid-size boats for commercial operations, for example, passenger boats, car ferries and a multitude of fishing boats. These are boats that operate year around and that at regular intervals need to replace their engines.

The high-speed passenger boat MF Sjosprint was equipped at the end of last year with twin Volvo Penta D12s for propulsion, a move which reportedly helped reduce fuel consumption 30 percent compared with the old engine, while at the same time performance has improved.

The MF Flatoy car ferry installed a D12 last May. "Volvo Penta engine has operated problem-free and has a very low noise level, which is comfortable for us working onboard," says Torgier Gamst on the MF Flatoy. "Fuel consumption is also significantly lower. Previously, we consumed 6.3 liters per nautical mile, compared with 4.9 liters today, a decrease of about 25%, or approx.

44,000 liters annually." The manufacturer claims that many of the operational benefits are due to the engine's advanced electronic control. The fuel system, with single injectors working under very high pressure, is controlled fully electronically. Consequently, in each situation, the exact amount of fuel is injected into each cylinder. Turbo with charge-air cooling and fourvalve technology ensures efficient combustion, resulting in low fuel consumption and minimal exhaust emissions.

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Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 37, Feb 2004

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Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.