Danish ferry operator Molslinjen operates the Hammershus RoPax ferry on the Rönne–Köge and Rönne–Sassnitz routes. These routes connect the island of Bornholm with mainland Europe. Using already reconditioned parts enabled a full 32,000-hour engine overhaul to be completed within a tight 14-day dry dock window.
Molslinjen needs to ensure that maintenance and overhaul work on its vessels is completed according to carefully planned schedules because any unplanned downtime would impact service levels and profitability.
Using exchange parts for major engine overhauls avoids the need to wait for parts to be reconditioned or repaired. Exchange parts also avoid challenges with delays relating to lack of availability of workshop labour or components.
Exchange parts are genuine, high-quality original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts that have been inspected and reconditioned according to strict quality management standards.
Scope of the Wärtsilä solution
Molslinjen selected Wärtsilä to conduct a major 32,000-hour overhaul on both Wärtsilä 31 engines on the RoPax ferry Hammershus. The service was delivered through Wärtsilä’s Exchange Parts service.
The exchange power units for the Wärtsilä 31 engines onboard the Hammershus are complete pre-overhauled cylinder packages consisting of three sub-assemblies:
These ready-to-use components reduced the time and labour Molslinjen needed to reserve for the major engine overhaul, which was completed in dry dock. The components removed from the engines were returned to Wärtsilä for reconditioning and reuse through the Wärtsilä Exchange Parts concept.
The Exchange Parts service for the power units enabled Molslinjen to complete a comprehensive 32,000 overhaul for both engines on the Hammershus without needing to purchase spare parts individually. Molslinjen completed the overhaul of all 16 cylinders, eight per engine, cost-efficiently at a fixed price, which improved budgeting predictability.
Overhauls can be completed in a much shorter time because exchange parts are ready to use immediately. Vessel operators don't need to wait for old parts to be reconditioned, which can reduce the time needed for an overhaul by up to 37%.
There are three key benefits of using exchange parts:
“Significant time savings can be achieved when parts are ready for use directly out of the box. Additionally, the process of removing and installing the piston, liner and connecting rod in a single lift further optimises efficiency.”
Jan Hauberg Jørgensen, Chief Engineer, Molslinjen
Whatever kind of vessel you own or operate, exchange parts are relevant for you because they minimise the time needed for vessel maintenance. Using pre-overhauled exchange parts for vessel engines brings several distinct advantages:
