Wärtsilä Propulsion Packages To Four New Dredgers
Wärtsilä, the marine industry’s leading systems integrator, will provide the engines and fixed pitch propellers (FPP) to Van Oord for the Artemis, the second of two large self-propelled cutter suction dredgers (CSDs) being built at IHC Dredgers. Two further orders have been received from Chinese companies: the Nantong Gangzha Shipping Manufacturing Co., Ltd and the Tianjin Dredging Company.
The equipment order for the first vessel, the Athena (picture), was placed earlier in 2008. Both vessels will be powered by three Wärtsilä 6L46F engines, and will feature Wärtsilä FPPs. The Artemis is due to be in operation by the second quarter 2013. The customer’s need was for light and very powerful engines, with quick response and high reliability, a requirement that the Wärtsilä products meet in full. Additionally, Wärtsilä is currently negotiating a Dynamic Maintenance agreement with Van Oord.
Nantong Gangzha Shipping Manufacturing
Two further orders have been received from Chinese companies: The Nantong Gangzha Shipping Manufacturing Co., Ltd and the Tianjin Dredging Company (TDC), part of the state-owned CCCC Group. The Nantong Gangzha Shipping Manufacturing Co., Ltd shipyard has placed an order for two Wärtsilä 16V32 engines, propulsion equipment and systems for a hopper dredger currently under construction. The ship is scheduled to be fully operational by the third quarter 2012. In announcing the order, Mr Shao, vice president of the Nantong Gangzha Shipping Manufacturing Co. Ltd shipyard, said: “Wärtsilä has successfully supplied propulsion packages for a number of large hopper dredgers in the Chinese market, and we feel that the company’s products, backed by Wärtsilä’s professional service capabilities, will bring us the highest value and returns.”
Tianjin Dredging Company
The Tianjin Dredging Company (TDC), part of the state-owned CCCC Group, has placed a propulsion package order with Wärtsilä for two dredgers being built at yards in China. The ships are due to be in operation during the beginning of 2012. TDC is an existing customer of Wärtsilä, having previously ordered Wärtsilä engines for three other jumbo hopper dredgers. “We wish to ensure the vessel performance by choosing Wärtsilä, who has proven to be a professional and reliable partner for the other ships in our current fleet”, says Mr Liu, manager of vessel building at TDC.
Common Theme
“The common theme in all these orders is that the companies trust Wärtsilä to provide reliable and cost-efficient solutions. Over the years, the Wärtsilä team has acquired considerable know-how on dredging solutions, and this experience is of tremendous importance to owners and operators across the world. Dredging is a complicated business, and the vessels require a very high degree of efficiency in order to work effectively in varying sea and weather conditions”, says Aaron Bresnahan, vice president, Special Vessels, Wärtsilä Ship Power.