Underwater Propeller Repairs in Winter Conditions in Europe
In just over a week Hydrex diver/technicians traveled to Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and France to assist shipowners with damaged propeller blades. On two bulkers the blades were cropped while on a third bulker and a general cargo vessel the bent blades could be straightened.In all cases the best solution was offered to the customer to restore the propeller’s efficiency as close to the original condition as possible.One of the propeller blades of a 180-meter bulker was severely bent. A fast, on-site solution to restore the propeller’s balance and efficiency was needed.
Wärtsilä Helps Siem Offshore Cut Emissions, Fuel Consumption
Norwegian offshore vessel operator Siem Offshore has tapped Finnish maritime technology firm Wärtsilä to help it cut emissions and fuel consumption aboard two well intervention vessels.The two vessels, the Siem Helix 1 and Siem Helix 2, each operate with eight Wärtsilä 32 engines. The ships are operating in Brazil’s offshore oil fields.According to Wärtsilä, the 5-year agreement will ensure the optimal maintenance required to reduce the vessels’ fuel consumption and emissions…
Historic Steam Ship Sailing Cleaner with New Bilge Filter
Environmental awareness is key priority for historic 83-year old steam yacht S/S UkkopekkaThe last surviving ship to have seen active service in Finland’s Winter Wars and Continuation Wars from 1939-1944 has stepped up its fight against marine pollution with the installation of new environmental protection products.Built in 1938, S/S Ukkopekka is a 35-meter privately owned passenger steamship operating cruise trips in the Finnish Archipelago Sea. This area of the Baltic is a MARPOL…
Carnival's New Cruise Ship Bunkers LNG in Rotterdam
Carnival Cruise Line’s new cruise ship Mardi Gras made its first port call Tuesday in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, where the ship will refuel its liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion system for the first time after delivery.Mardi Gras, set to begin sailing from Port Canaveral, Fla., next year, will be the first cruise ship in the Americas to be powered by LNG.In its liquefied state, LNG is odorless, colorless, more environmentally friendly and less expensive than other fuels. LNG is considered the marine industry’s most advanced fuel technology.
Top Maritime Trends of 2020: Decarbonization is Blowing in the Wind
The global shipping industry is going to face a big challenge during the coming years when regulators, investors and stakeholders demand the drastic reduction of CO2 and other GHG emissions during ship operations. But in reality, the change is already underway.Since 2013, any newbuild ship over 400GRT has been obliged to comply with a specific Energy Efficiency limits – the well-known Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI). It is about to enter an accelerating phase propelled by the recently released IMO GHG reduction strategy.
Steerprop Azimuth Propulsion for Icebreaking W2W Vessel
Finland-based propulsion specialist Steerprop has recently won a contract to deliver azimuth units as the main propulsion and steering system for a shallow-draught ice-breaking vessel being built for offshore oil operations in the Russian Far East.The 75.9 meters long, 14 meters wide vessel is being built by the Dutch shipyard Royal Niestern Sander for the Russian companies Mercury Sakhalin and Pola.The walk-to-work vessel will operate all year round in harsh ice conditions, transferring service technicians and equipment to and from offshore platforms off the Sakhalin Island.
Wärtsilä to Make CBO Flamengo Brazil's First PSV Fitted with a Battery Pack
Brazilian offshore support vessel operator CBO has tasked maritime equipment manufacturer Wärtsilä, based in Finland, to convert one of its offshore vessels to operate with hybrid propulsion. The vessel selected for the upgrade is the 2012-built platform supply vessel CBO Flamengo. According to Wärtsilä, the CBO Flamengo will be the first vessel in Brazil and Latin America to be fitted with a battery pack for hybrid propulsion. This is expected to improve the vessel’s energy consumption…
Major Supply Contracts Awarded for Finland's New Warships
Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) revealed it has entered into three major supply contracts worth over €100 million ($117.4 million) in total for the main equipment of Pohjanmaa Class multi-purpose corvettes commissioned by the Finnish Defense Forces.The most crucial contracts for the supply of critical main equipment with long delivery times were signed during spring and summer in highly unusual circumstances, the shipbuilder said, adding that the coronavirus pandemic has posed significant challenges to numerous businesses…
Wärtsilä Names Håkan Agnevall as President and CEO
Finland-based marine engine and technology provider Wärtsilä has appointed Håkan Agnevall as its next president and CEO.Agnevall, who is currently president of Volvo's bus division, will start in his role no later than in April 2021, succeeding Jaakko Eskola, who will continue with the company as a senior advisor and executive until he retires on June 30, 2021, after 22 years with the group.Agnevall has been with the Volvo Group since 2013. In the decade prior to that he held various leadership positions in Bombardier and in ABB…
Wärtsilä to Refit Canadian Coast Guard Icebreaker
Finland's Wärtsilä reports it has won a contract for the delivery and integration engineering of two retractable thrusters and a dynamic positioning (DP) system for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) icebreaker CCGS Amundsen.Wärtsilä, which booked the order in July, said it was able to meet the CCG’s requirements to fit the equipment in the existing space of the 98-meter-long Arctic Class 3 Medium Icebreaker, the only vessel in its class to be fitted with retractable thrusters and DP. The new thrusters will be integrated with the existing bow thruster, which is also a Wärtsilä product.
First Taiwan-built Offshore Installation Vessel to Sport Wärtsilä Gear
Finland-based marine engine and technology provider Wärtsilä has been tasked to equip the first Taiwan-built offshore wind installation vessel - the Green Jade - with "a broad scope" of its solutions.The 216 meters long vessel will be built at the CSBC shipyard in Taiwan for the joint-venture company CDWE owned by CSBC and Belgium-based DEME Group. The vessel is expected to play a major role in developing the offshore wind farm business in both new and established markets, including Taiwan.
World First Full Scale 'Ammonia as Fuel' Marine Four-Stroke Engine Test
While there is no consensus on the marine industry ‘fuel of the future’ that will meet ever tightening international emission mandates, a group of organizations has commenced what it is calling the world’s first long-term, full-scale, testing of ammonia as a fuel in a marine four-stroke combustion engine. Wärtsilä, Knutsen OAS Shipping AS, and Repsol, and the Sustainable Energy Catapult Center, have teamed for the effort, as ammonia offers promise as a carbon-free fuel for marine applications…
Wärtsilä to Cut 700 Jobs in Ship Unit Revamp
Finland's Wärtsilä plans to cut 700 jobs globally as the Finnish engineering group splits its ship technology business into three separate business units."Even though the timing is challenging, implementing the new organisation and modus operandi fast is important for Wartsila's future success," Vesa Riihimaki, head of Wärtsilä's Finnish operations said in a statement.Wärtsilä said 220 of the 700 job cuts would happen in Finland.($1 = 0.9229 euros)(Reporting by Tarmo Virki, editing by Louise Heavens)
Interview: A Return to Wind Power with Tuomas Riski & Norsepower
Norsepower CEO and co-founder Tuomas Riski has put a new spin on some established technology, bringing wind power back to shipping in an undeniably eye-catching manner. Here Nor-Shipping’s latest ‘Ocean Action Hero’ explains the benefits of his firm’s unique technology, his plans for building global market presence, and the key role Norsepower’s sails can play in enabling a more sustainable shipping industry. “But isn’t there a problem that some people think it looks, you know… a bit odd?” Tuomas Riski laughs at a question that you quickly get the feeling he’s dealt with before.
VTT Studying Bio- and Waste-based Oils for Ships
Researchers looking for an ecologically and economically sustainable way to replace fossil fuels are exploring how suitable fuel oils made from biomass and waste plastics are for power plants and ship diesel engines.Internal-combustion engine power plants use natural gas or heavy fuel oil in diesel engines. In order for large diesel engines to be environmentally sustainable both on land and at sea, it is necessary to find bio- and waste-based alternatives to fossil fuels. These…
MAN Reenters Finnish Market with Baltic Order
MAN Energy Solutions has won the order to supply the engines for a newbuild shuttle ferry for Estonian shipping company Tallink Grupp. A diesel-electric plant comprising five MAN 51/60DF dual-fuel main engines – with liquefied natural gas (LNG) as primary fuel – will power the MyStar, which Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) will construct at its yard in Finland. Delivery to the customer is scheduled for early 2022. Upon entering service, the vessel will serve the Tallinn-Helsinki route.Jyrki Heinimaa…
Wärtsilä to Equip LNG-fueled RoLo Newbuilds
Wärtsilä announced on Friday that it will supply the main equipment for three liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled short-sea Ro-Lo (roll-on, lift-off) vessels to be operated by Finland based Bore Ltd., an affiliate of the Dutch Spliethoff Group.The ships have been ordered and are being built at the WuHu Shipyard in China. The order with Wärtsilä was placed in December.Wärtsilä said it has worked in close collaboration with both the owner and the naval architect to develop a vessel optimized integrated LNG system.
Wärtsilä Reports 45% Fall in Q1 Profit
Finland's Wärtsilä on Tuesday missed expectations with a 45% drop in quarterly profit hurt by the coronavirus outbreak, sending its shares down more than 6%, despite order intake at the ship technology and power plant maker falling less than expected.CEO Jaakko Eskola said demand in the first quarter had remained reasonable given the market conditions but among Wärtsilä's clients the cruise ship segment had been severely affected and several energy project sites had been demobilized."In the energy markets, deteriorating macroeconomic conditions and the anticipated decrease in electricity consu