pagoda
Well-Known Member
That's potentially good news since I understood the opposite from a friend in CMAL/Calmac..
Glen Sannox
- Thread starter earlybird
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That's potentially good news since I understood the opposite from a friend in CMAL/Calmac..
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
That's potentially good news since I understood the opposite from a friend in CMAL/Calmac..
The Rosyth setup is not due for a couple of years, so maybe your friend is thinking of the interim situation.
dimdav
Well-Known Member
The 2 hybrid ferries are now not due to enter service until late 2019 early 2020 due to technical problems with the engines so perhaps just in time for the new rosyth setup.
NormanS
Well-Known Member
Calmac are at present operating three hybrid (diesel/ electric from batteries) ferries on the West Coast.
crewman
Well-Known Member
There used to be an LNG plant in Glasgow. It was run by BG when I saw it. Took gas from the trans mission system when demand was low and liquefied it and evaporated it to supply gas when demand was high. They also had a tanker loading facility as some towns on the West coast (Oban?) Had a local LNG tank supplied by road which then supplied the town with gas. This facility would be ideally located to supply Ardrossan.
steppygas
Member
There still is storage at Provan for road transporters due to Oban etc. Was being transported fro. Avonmouth but that's closed or due to close.
Spyro
Well-Known Member
2 years from now, that's some technical problem!
pagoda
Well-Known Member
They will be well out of warranty by the time paying passengers get near them then!
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
Have you a link for that? I can't find anything saying later than next winter.
dimdav
Well-Known Member
Theres the link below which says 2019 but I'm sure it was a different article I saw which had the late 2019 in relation to the 2 new ones and specifically mentioned the western isles route. Will keep digging...
http://www.ardrossanherald.com/news/15662416.New_Arran_ferry_will_be_delayed_until_2019/?ref=twtrec
Theres also this recent story which casts doubt over the ferries ability to dock in Ardrossan in anything but benign conditions. Would love to know whats behind the concern, is it justified or just political mischief making?
http://www.ardrossanherald.com/news..._viability_of_the_new_Arran_Ferry/?ref=twtrec
dimdav
Well-Known Member
As an aside I am led to believe the issue with the engines boils down to the ships being designed before the IMO design code for LNG fuelled ships was even published. This code is now mandatory so the engines need redesigned.
Luckily though there are no penalty clauses in the contract with Fergusons as that was deemed too big a risk and one which could have put the viability of the yard into question.
Luckily though there are no penalty clauses in the contract with Fergusons as that was deemed too big a risk and one which could have put the viability of the yard into question.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
Thanks. As far as I can tell, it was supposed to have been available for the Summer 2018 timetable, but since it launched late they are now aiming for Winter 2018/19. Since the winter service is generally just a single vessel, that might mean it has little do so and effectively enters service in Summer 2019.
Looks like a resurgence of paranoia about Troon, while being careful not to say so.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
They seem to be modified versions of an established Wärtsilä design - https://www.wartsila.com/products/m...nerating-sets/dual-fuel-engines/wartsila-34df. I wonder if these are the first they've sold?
dimdav
Well-Known Member
I always thought Troon was a more sensible choice but do appreciate the impact it moving would have had on Ardrossan. That said ferry dodging in and out of clyde marina is something I don't miss since my move up firth.
dimdav
Well-Known Member
Wouldn't have thought the modifications would have been excessive if its an established engine. I suspect its more to do with the LNG storage and delivery regulations being different and the physical structure of the ships needing to be modified as opposed to the rumours that they just don't work and the manufacturer is needing to redesign the actual engine.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
That sounds most likely. Modern diesels are pretty fuel-agnostic: as long as you squirt something flammable in, they'll work.
pagoda
Well-Known Member
From a friend in CMAL/Calmac - the engines are largely proven - the complexity of the LNG design - and modifications has stretched the yard's capabilities somewhat- involving redesign/rebuild of some of the yard itself. The lack of good info is probably down to nobody wanting to talk publicly about the problems... politics are deeply embedded in the issues.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
Still, it's good to see a Clyde builder back at the technological cutting edge - following in the footsteps of Denny's, who built the first commercial turbine steamer (TS King Edward) and pioneered stabilisers. We may never compete on size again, but we should be able to compete on innovative design.
dimdav
Well-Known Member
Politics seem to be deeply embedded into everything in Scotland at the moment. I do wish politicians of all flavours would just keep out of the way and not either grandstand or carp. Wishful thinking I know.
dimdav
Well-Known Member
Completely agree. This yard needs careful incubation and the lack of penalty clauses on this contract is imho a good thing.