HSC Francisco is a high-speed catamaran built by Incat in Hobart, Tasmania. Powered by liquefied natural gas,[4][5] she is currently the fastest passenger ship in service, reaching a speed of 58 knots (107 km/h; 67 mph). Propulsion is by two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, coupled with two Wärtsilä water-jets.[6] It has a capacity of 1,024 passengers and crew and 150 cars.
The catamaran is owned and operated by Argentine–Uruguayan ferry company Buquebus. Francisco plies the 146-nautical-mile (270 km; 168 mi) sea route between Buenos Aires and Montevideo,[7] in around two hours and 45 minutes.
HSC Francisco is named after Pope Francis.
The company receives 66 tons of LNG per day from 7 production units at a facility in San Vicente near Buenos Aires, sufficient for two round-trips per day for the ship. The LNG is sent in LNG-powered tank trucks to the ship.[8][9]
See also
References
- ^ Francisco, World’s Fastest Commercial Ship Powered by LNG-Fueled GE Gas Turbines (PDF), GE Aviation
- ^ “069”.
- ^ Thakkar, Pooja (1 July 2013). “The Fastest Ship on Earth Powered By Jet Engines”. Technology Digital. San Diego. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ Rebón, Nuria (26 April 2018). “Buquebus: u$s 190 millones para una nueva terminal, energía solar y barco a GNL”. El Cronista (in Spanish).
- ^ “Buquebus – Case”. MannTek.
We wanted a very fast ferry but diesel engines could not deliver enough power. The solution came from the gas turbines which gave us the power for the high speeds we required
- ^ “Guinness World Records – Fastest ferry”. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ “Sea routes”. Archived from the original on 2024-08-10. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
- ^ “Plant supplying LNG to Buquebus ferry is inaugurated”. LNG Industry. 13 August 2014.
Argentina’s President, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, has inaugurated the plant supplying LNG to ferry company Buquebus
- ^ “Buquebus boosting production at small-scale LNG plant in Argentina”. LNG Prime. 30 January 2024.