Ferry Vents 700kg of Methane Gas!

Last summer, the MV Glen Sannox ferry experienced a critical failure when a faulty valve caused an uncontrolled release of 700kg of highly flammable methane gas. This significant venting occurred over a 12-minute period while the vessel was carrying 82 passengers. The large volume of methane released was so substantial that some gas was drawn into a ventilation intake, setting off alarms in the ship's generator room. Although the risk of explosion was considered low, the ferry operator, CalMac, has classified the event as a 'critical failure' in the gas fuel system and stated that corrective actions and learning have taken place. The propulsion systems were designed by the Finnish firm Wartsila. Following the incident, CalMac has ceased operating the ship's main engines on LNG, and the methane tank was fully emptied in November.