JULY 8, 2013 — Norway's Bergen Group Fosen shipyard has today completed the successful delivery of MV Stavangerfjord to Fjord Line.

The 170 m vessel can carry 1,500 passengers and 600 cars and is the first large cruise ferry to be fueled only by LNG, rather than being dual-fueled. The Stavangerfjord and her sister were originally ordered with dual-fuel engines. However, Bergen Group received a contract modification last July that specified single-fuel LNG engines. (See earlier story) and each ship is fitted with four Bergen gas engines, powering a highly efficient Promas integrated rudder and propeller propulsion system.

The switch from dual fuel to single fuel contributed to some delays in Stavangerfjord's delivery (see earlier story) and today's handover was is line with a revised schedule announced in May.

The hull for the next cruise ferry arrived in Fosen from Poland's Stocznia Gdansk shipyard in late March for outfitting and completion. Bergen Group and Fjord Line say they will clarify the final delivery of this sister ship "in the near future."