In a statement the organisation identified the counterparty as BC Ferries of Canada, which inked the CAD 165m ($155m) order earlier this month.
Bud Streeter, the president of LR’s Canadian branch, used the announcement as an opportunity to applaud the rapid expansion of the use of LNG fuel.
“The outlook is good for LNG in Canada – there is availability of Canadian gas at highly competitive prices, so commercially this is looking like a smart decision for BC Ferries,” he said in reference to the freshly minted order.
“Our job was, and will be, to help ensure safety and reliability in the design, build and the bunkering and operation of these ships. Passengers are the most valuable cargo so we will endeavour to contribute to the safe operation of these ships.”
LR pointed out that it will actively monitor the project to ensure that the vessels comply with safety, environmental and technical standards and will continue to do so at various intervals after delivery, which will likely take place in 2016 and 2017.
In addition to BC Ferries the organisation noted it has landed a number of other contracts to class different types of tonnage with dual-fuel engines, a trend that will likely continue thanks to the rising cost of bunkers and increasingly strict emissions requirements.
The list includes a Swedish bulker, Norwegian car-carriers, an ice-breaker in Finland and what today’s announcement described as “joint development and investment projects” with owners and yards like Greece’s Capital Shipmanagement and DSME of South Korea.
