Wärtsilä will supply its methanol hybrid propulsion system for four heavy-lift vessels being built at the Wuhu Shipyard in China
German heavy-lift and project cargo specialist SAL Heavy Lift contracted the newbuild vessel orders as part of a joint venture with Netherlands-based Jumbo Shipping. The order has an option for an additional two vessels.
The ships are scheduled for delivery in 2025 and will be used mainly to support windfarm installations.
Wärtsilä’s hybrid propulsion system for the vessels will include a variable-speed Wärtsilä 32 main engine capable of operating with methanol fuel. With a 2025 delivery date, the vessels will be among the first to be ’methanol-ready’, and they will also be the first methanol-capable ships to employ a variable speed main engine.
The hybrid system includes battery-based energy storage units, a /PTI generator and motor, a multidrive converter, and the Wärtsilä energy management system for controlling and optimising hybrid operations. The vessel’s energy storage system (ESS) will be based on lithium-titanium-oxide batteries, which can handle higher amounts of deep cycles than normal lithium-ion based systems.
“The ESS will significantly reduce the fuel consumption and the necessary size of the port’s electric shore connection during crane operations while also providing fuel savings at sea by reducing engine load fluctuations in rough seas,” according to Wärtsilä.
The company said it will also supply the gearbox, the controllable pitch propeller, the bow and stern thrusters, air shaft seals, the sterntube and bearings.
“These ships represent the next generation in heavy-lift shipping. In addition to their technical capabilities, they will feature outstanding environmental performance and help guide shipping towards a greener future,” SAL Heavy Lift chief executive Dr Martin Harren said. “We are committed to decarbonising shipping activities, and we wish to thank Wärtsilä for their support and co-operation throughout this project.”
