HSC Francisco
Francisco in Buenos Aires | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Uruguay | |
| Name | HSC Francisco |
| Namesake | Pope Francis, first Argentine Pope |
| Owner | 2013–present: Buquebus |
| Route | Buenos Aires—Montevideo |
| Builder | Incat, Hobart, Tasmania |
| Yard number | 69 |
| Launched | 17 November 2012 |
| In service | 2013 |
| Home port | Montevideo, Uruguay |
| Identification |
|
| Status | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 7,109 GT; Summer DWT: 500 t; 1,516 tonnes of displacement[1] |
| Length | 99 m |
| Beam | 26.48 m |
| Installed power | 6 Caterpillar C18 generators for onboard power + 2 Caterpillar C9 generators for main engine services |
| Propulsion | 2 General Electric LM2500 rated at 22 MW each[2] driving 2 Wärtsilä LJX1720 SR Waterjets |
| Speed | 58 knots (67 mph; 107 km/h) |
| Capacity |
|
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.