Wärtsilä and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) have signed a co-operation agreement to develop gas-fuelled merchant vessels using efficient propulsion machinery concepts.
The focus of the joint study will be on utilising liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel for operating vessels.
Wärtsilä’s input will be related to the propulsion machinery, with particular reference to large bore, dual-fuel engines combined with mechanical propulsion solutions. SHI will concentrate on the design of efficient vessels incorporating fuel storage facilities and gas-powered propulsion machinery.
Merchant vessels to be evaluated include crude oil tankers, for which both optimum propulsion concepts and the performance benefits achieved using LNG as fuel will be assessed.
“Compared to conventional engines running on heavy fuel oil (HFO), Wärtsilä’s dual-fuel engine technology offers 20-25 per cent lower CO2 emissions, 90 per cent lower NOx emissions and almost negligible SOx and particulate emissions,” said Jaakko Eskola, group vice president, Wärtsilä Ship Power.
SHI’s role will include developing an efficient and environmentally friendly gas-fuelled ship with a new hull form and propulsion systems. It will include a fuel gas storage and supply system, known as Samsung FuGaS.
As well as identifying the major vessel parameters, SHI will provide input for the specifications regarding the propulsion system and fuel storage and handling systems, in addition to assisting with economic evaluations.
“We have delivered hundreds of vessels from virtually every ship category to customers worldwide, and we lead the industry in both the number of ships built and dock turnover time, a key measure of efficiency,” says KS Lee, vice president, project planning team, SHI.
“As an advanced shipbuilder for environmentally friendly vessels, we look forward to transferring our competence in LNG technology from LNG carriers to LNG-powered merchant vessels.”
