Wärtsilä has recently been awarded a series of orders to supply propulsion solutions for dredger vessels to be built in China and the Netherlands. Since dredging applications are typically very demanding, the high reliability of the Wärtsilä solutions was a key element in the award of all three project orders.
Wärtsilä, the marine industry’s leading systems integrator, will provide the engines and fixed pitch propellers (FPP) to Van Oord, the Netherland-based dredging and marine contractor with global operations. The equipment installation is for the “Artemis”, the second of two large self propelled cutter suction dredgers being built for the company at the IHC Dredgers shipyard in Kinderdijk, the Netherlands. The equipment order for the first vessel, the “Athena”, 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.
Two further orders have been received from Chinese companies. 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.”
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.
Reliable and cost-efficient solutions
“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.
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Source: wartsila, July 13, 2011