Continuing order success for Wärtsilä DF engines in LNG carriers

31 March 2006, In the first two months of 2006, Wärtsilä Corporation won orders for a further 16 Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines to power four LNG (liquefied natural gas) carriers contracted in Korea. These orders are included in the order intake published on March 15th 2006.

In January Wärtsilä was awarded an order to supply two sets of four Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines to Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) of Korea. These engines will be installed in two dual-fuel-electric LNG carriers contracted by Bergesen Worldwide Gas of Norway, and are the first Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines to be ordered by DSME.

In February Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries of Korea ordered two sets of four Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines to power two dual-fuel-electric LNG carriers for Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) of Japan.

LNG industry massively embraces dual-fuel-electric propulsion concept

These latest contracts bring the total orders to 104 Wärtsilä 50DF engines for 26 dual-fuel-electric LNG carriers. “In very many of the LNG carrier newbuilding projects worldwide, dual-fuel-electric machinery has been preferred over traditionally-applied steam turbine machinery and other machinery alternatives,” says Jaakko Eskola, Group Vice President of Wärtsilä Ship Power from 1 April 2006. “Higher efficiency and thus lower fuel consumption and a higher degree of redundancy are the keys to the unrivalled success of dual-fuel-electric machinery.”

First order from Japan in November

In November, Wärtsilä received its first dual-fuel engine order from Japan. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will install four Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines each on two 157,000 m³ LNG carriers for MISC of Malaysia, formerly known as Malaysia International Shipping Corporation, and will thereby become the first Japanese shipyard to apply dual-fuel-electric machinery. Jaakko Eskola says “Japan is the second-largest producer of LNG carriers after Korea, so this order is an important milestone. The fact that these are the first dual-fuel engines for MISC, one of the major LNG carrier owners/operators, makes this contract even more notable.”

The other orders during the last six months of 2005 came from Korea. Samsung Heavy Industries ordered five sets of four Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines to power one 155,000 m³ LNG carrier for Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” Line) of Japan, two 155,000 m³ LNG carriers for A.P. Møller of Denmark, and two 155,000 m³ LNG carriers for Chevron of the USA. Hyundai Heavy Industries ordered two sets of four Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines to power two 155,000 m³ LNG carriers for Teekay Shipping of Canada.

Jaakko Eskola points out that “the big players in the LNG segment have all opted for Wärtsilä dual-fuel engine technology.” The 26 dual-fuel-electric LNG carriers currently on order in the world, all featuring Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines, are being constructed in France, Korea and Japan for A.P. Møller (six ships), Bergesen Worldwide Gas (two ships), BP Shipping (four ships), Chevron (two ships), Gaz de France (two ships), Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” Line) (three ships), MISC (two ships), Mitsui OSK Lines (two ships), Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) (one ship) and Teekay Shipping (two ships).

Orders for smaller engines types

In addition to these Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engine contracts, Wärtsilä also received orders for the slightly smaller Wärtsilä 32DF dual-fuel engine type. DSME ordered a twelve-cylinder unit to complement the steam turbine machinery installation on a 151,000 m³ LNG carrier with onboard LNG regasification installation (LNG-RV) for Exmar of Belgium. West Contractors of Norway ordered one set of four six-cylinder units to power a dual-fuel-electric offshore supply vessel for Eidesvik Shipping of Norway.

“Dual-fuel engines have so far been selected for onshore power plants, floating production, storage and offloading installations (FPSOs), offshore supply vessels and LNG carriers,” says Jaakko Eskola. “On the back of our success in those market segments, we are currently experiencing increased interest to apply the same dual-fuel machinery concepts in other market segments, ranging from floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) to ferries, tugs and even cruise ships”.

Notes to the editor:
Wärtsilä enhances the business of its customers by providing them with complete lifecycle power solutions. When creating better and environmentally compatible technologies, Wärtsilä focuses on the marine and energy markets with products and solutions as well as services. Through innovative products and services, Wärtsilä sets out to be the most valued business partner of all its customers. This is achieved by the dedication of more than 12.000 professionals manning 130 Wärtsilä offices in over 60 countries around the world.

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Marit Holmlund-Sund

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Wärtsilä Corporation

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