The four short sea 1A ice class 5,800 dwt-big lo-lo gas-run ships, currently under construction at the Chinese WuHu Shipyard, will feature a host of technologies developed by the Finnish company.

Each will have a 34DF dual-fuel main engine suitable for running on liquefied natural gas (LNG), a gearbox, a controlled pitch propeller with high performance (HP) nozzle, and a LNGPac system, all delivered by Wärtsilä. The last solution has been customised for installation below deck in order not to compromise the cargo hold space.

"[…] the propulsion efficiency will be optimised as a result of Wärtsilä's Opti Design capabilities that tailors the propeller and HP nozzle to specifically align with the vessel's hull. These integrated technologies will be supported via Wärtsilä's Data Collection Unit (WDCU) with cloud based services and remote monitoring to optimise operability, fuel economy, and periodic maintenance," the company underlined in a press release.

The equipment will be delivered to the yard during Q4 2020, with the first vessel expected to be delivered in autumn 2021. Once floated out, the newbuilds will sail in the Baltic and North seas, working for UPM, a Finnish forest industry company.

"We are very pleased to have these next-generation sustainable vessels. Minimising our environmental footprint has long been a focal point for us, and the reduction of emissions is a fundamental part of this. The new vessels running on LNG fit well into our continuous drive for greener operations," Ad Toonen, Technical Director, Wijnne & Barends, commented.

Six previously ordered vessels for Wijnne & Barends Chartering, which are already under construction, are also being fitted with Wärtsilä main engines and controlled pitch propellers.

Photo: Wärtsilä