Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, part of Finland’s technology major Wärtsilä, is set to provide its cargo handling system for a fully pressurized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier currently under construction for Meghna Fresh LPG, part of one of Bangladesh’s largest industrial conglomerates, the Meghna Group of Industries.
As informed, Wärtsilä bagged the order in October 2024. The newbuild is reportedly being constructed at a shipyard owned by Meghna, which is the owner of both the ship and the energy industries it will serve once it sets on its maiden voyage, anticipated for 2026.
Once on the water, the unit is set to operate both on inland rivers as well as the sea and the ocean.
According to Wärtsilä, the scope for the complete cargo handling system covers three main points: engineering, the material scope, and the supervision, commissioning, and gas trial.
The materials to be supplied include on-deck machinery, LPG piping, instrumentation, interface materials connecting the cargo tanks and hull and a cargo control system. It is understood that the Finnish player will also offer on-site assistance.
“We are delighted to continue our excellent relationship with Meghna Group. This latest order represents an endorsement of the continuous support, the quality of our product designs, and the functionality of the systems that Wärtsilä delivers. Bangladesh is a rapidly developing country, and we at Wärtsilä are honored to contribute to this growth with our solutions,” Knut-Erik Heggem , Sales Manager, Wärtsilä Gas Solution, highlighted.
As per Wärtsilä, its cargo handling system—made for fully pressurized gas carriers with capacities between 1,500 and 13,000 cbm—was engineered to cut operating costs, improve vessels’ energy efficiency design index (EEDI) and reduce overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The system is believed to be capable of handling LPG, propylene, ammonia, dimethyl ether (DME), butadiene, vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), and an array of chemical cargo. It is also considered ready for integration with Wärtsilä’s gas fuel supply system (LFSS), which allows ships to slash their overall GHG emissions.
The same month the Finnish company welcomed the order from Meghna, it also clinched another deal: to supply cargo handling systems for four new 93,000 cbm capacity very large ammonia carriers (VLACs) that are being built by South Korean shipbuilding titan Hanwha Ocean at Geoje shipyard for Greek shipowner Naftomar .
As explained, the equipment is slated for delivery to the yard commencing in the first quarter of 2025, while the vessels are projected to be handed over to Naftomar by 2027.