Wärtsilä, the marine industry’s leading solutions provider, has signed a contract with Nam Cheong Dockyard of Miri, Malaysia, which will build a Wärtsilä Ship Design (WSD) multi-purpose platform supply vessel (MPSV). This WSD 800 MPSV is the first in a new series of Wärtsilä designs being marketed as a total solution, including all relevant systems as well as the ship design.
The total solution concept of the WSD 800 MPSV design includes four gensets. These produce more than 6 MW of electric power, which is in turn distributed via Wärtsilä’s patented Low Loss Concept for diesel electric propulsion, to two Wärtsilä main azimuth steerable thrusters aft, and two tunnel thrusters forward, and to provide all necessary electric power onboard. The WSD 800 MPSV has an overall length of 81.6 meters, a beam of 18.4 meters, and a summer draught of 6.8 meters.
The vessel, which is scheduled to be launched and commissioned by the autumn 2012, will be owned by Bumi Armada, the largest owner and operator of offshore support vessels in Malaysia. It will serve the region’s offshore oil industry, and its design includes a Remote Operated Vehicle mezzanine deck, crane, and a large 800 square metre deck area.
Wärtsilä provides a variety of ship designs for merchant, offshore and special vessels to both ship owners and shipyards. Wärtsilä’s offering covers the full range of ship design disciplines, including naval architecture, as well as structural, electrical, outfitting mechanical and piping engineering. The offering ranges from simple, low cost, proven standard designs, often with a full equipment package, to advanced customized designs based on client-specific requirements.
Wärtsilä has put extensive focus on the development of ship design during recent years, including maximizing the efficiency of hull lines, integrating the latest equipment technologies, and tailoring designs to meet operational profiles. This total solution approach was a major factor in Wärtsilä being awarded this contract. The design also supports the shipyard’s requirements for seamless construction in co-operation with a single supplier.
Wärtsilä Ship Design has a strong global presence with operations in 10 countries. In line with Wärtsilä’s strategy, Wärtsilä Ship Design’s global operations align the company closer to the needs of its customers, including both owners and shipyards. The company’s design capabilities mean that Wärtsilä is able to enter into dialogue with customers at an earlier stage, which results in being able to offer more competitive solutions.