Wärtsilä wins integrated solutions contract for new Siem Offshore LNG Platform Supply Vessel

Wednesday, Nov 28, 2012

Wärtsilä, the marine industry's leading solutions and services provider, has been contracted to supply an integrated solution comprising ship design services and the power and propulsion system for a newbuild LNG powered Platform Supply Vessel (PSV). The contract has been signed with the Norwegian yard Hellesøy Verft, and this will be the eighth vessel built at Hellesøy to be based on the Wärtsilä Ship Design VS 485 series. The vessel will be owned and operated by Siem Offshore on a charter contract for TOTAL.

The vessel is of Wärtsilä VS4411 LNG PSV design and features Wärtsilä power and propulsion, electrical and automation systems, including a complete four-split Wärtsilä Low Loss Concept (LLC) solution. This highly redundant electric power distribution system enables energy-efficiency increases of 2 to 4 percent, reduced electrical losses leading to greater fuel economy, while providing additional reliability for continuous operation. It also improves lifecycle performance and the fully-integrated design significantly reduces integration risks. The PSV will also be equipped with the Wärtsilä LNGPac LNG storage and handling system.

The PSV is scheduled to be operational from 2014 and will serve the Martin Linge oilfield, North-West of Stavanger, Norway. It has been designed to specifically meet TOTAL's North Sea operational requirements.

"The LNG PSV for Siem Offshore is the ninth to be designed by Wärtsilä Ship Design and further strengthens our position as the global leader in supplying integrated solutions for LNG PSVs. The order is testimony to our reputation for reliable, efficient and competitive solutions," comments Riku-Pekka Hägg, Vice President, Wärtsilä Ship Design.

Close to half of Siem's fleet consists of vessels with Wärtsilä ship design and equipment. Ten of the company's anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels have been designed by Wärtsilä and are equipped with complete hybrid diesel electric propulsion systems from Wärtsilä. This will be the first of Siem's vessels to be powered by LNG. Wärtsilä's acquisition of Hamworthy and the subsequent integration of Hamworthy's portfolio has expanded Wärtsilä's offering with enhanced gas bunkering, storage and feedsystem, thereby strengthening its technology leadership in LNG powered vessels.

With this new order, the number of LNG powered PSVs reaches 17. Wärtsilä has designed eight and has supplied dual-fuel machinery to 15 of these 17 vessels. Last year, Wärtsilä expanded its offering to include LNG storage and gas handling systems. This vessel marks the fifth LNG powered PSV vessel to use Wärtsilä's gas handling system.

Source: Wärtsilä