Yesterday, the shipping company Britanny Ferries announced in a press release that it was suspending the construction of its ecological ferry, which was to be built at the STX shipyards in Saint-Nazaire. Indeed "the conditions necessary for the realization of the LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) plan carried by Brittany Ferries are not met today" explains the company.
The Pegasis the vessel, which was to be 210 meters long, was to be one of the three largest LNG-powered vessels in the world.
An ecological transition plan started in 2014
At the beginning of 2014, Brittany Ferries had embarked on a green transition plan that involved installing smoke filters on three of its ships, converting three newer ships to liquefied natural gas and building an LNG ferry. These measures were decided in response to the new regulations on sulfur emissions that will come into force on January 1, 2015.
Financial charges too high
"Two and a half months before the deadline of January 1, 2015, everything shows that there will be no temporary exemption for shipowners committed to a green transition yet better in the medium term than the regulations on environmental standards" develops Brittany Ferries.
Jean-Marc Roue, Chairman of the company's Supervisory Board, explains "It is currently impossible for us to commit to an Ecological Transition Plan with a very high level of investment, to which must be added, due to the lack of a temporary exemption, tens of millions of euros per year in additional fuel costs related to the use of diesel instead of fuel oil, during the period necessary for the conversion of vessels.
Without a temporary exemption, the economic equilibrium of the LNG Stream is in danger. As the largest employer of French seafarers, it is my duty to protect the company and its employees at a time when current events unfortunately illustrate the difficult situation of maritime employment in France.
All the partners involved in building the LNG sector with Brittany Ferries have demonstrated the technical feasibility and environmental relevance of this pioneering technology for the future. I have therefore decided to suspend the LNG component of our Green Transition Plan. This decision is taken with great regret and weariness. Scrubbers will be installed on the three vessels initially planned to be converted to LNG. Despite this, it is an investment that amounts to 70/80 Meuros."
This is a major blow for STX, which is taking "act of decision" which had already suspended the construction of the ferry in September because the Breton shipping company had not managed to raise the necessary budget.
