Upgrading Shore Facilities for 3 New Ferries Propelled by LNG

The Société des Traversiers du Québec has decided to replace three ferry boats servicing two different liaisons. One ferry route is between Matane and Baie-Comeau or Godbout in the Gulf of St-Lawrence in Quebec. The other one is between Baie Ste-Catherine and Tadoussac on the Saguenay River. It is the first time in North America that ferries will be propelled by LNG. A new terminal will be built and five others need to be upgraded in order to accommodate these larger ships. The improvement work will be done on car ramps, pedestrian facilities, quays, and fender and mooring systems. Moreover, LNG installations are required and must be arranged while there is an absence of regulation about small scale LNG bunkering facilities. These two projects have multiple constraints and are currently carried out through thirteen contracts, which require a rigorous follow-up while allowing a constant optimization. The cost for the ships replacement is estimated at $400M, plus a cost of $75M for modifications for the shore facilities.