Merchant Vessels

How to solve the top 4 problems everyone has in merchant shipping operations? This white paper explains how.

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Solutions for merchant vessels

With around 55,000 vessels, the merchant shipping segment is large and diverse. It includes everything from mega container ships and large, medium and small gas carriers to short-sea feeders, bulkers and tankers. Despite its diversity, operators across this segment face a common challenge: they all need to develop flexible, future-proof vessels that are easy to upgrade and adapt as strategies change to address stricter environmental regulations.

This means operating fuel-flexible vessels that can take advantage of current and future options. It means integrating batteries and hybrid systems that increase efficiency and can be upgraded to take advantage of new energy sources like shore power. And it means selecting a lifecycle solution partner that can help you navigate the evolving options.

Container vessels

Integrated solutions for greater efficiency and reliability. Services for carefree operations throughout vessel's lifetime

Container vessels

Bulker and tanker

Future proof solutions for bulkers and tankers, and how they help achieve optimum performance and minimized emission levels

Bulker and tanker

Gas carriers

Short sea shipping

Future-proof solutions for short sea tankers, feeders, and bulkers

Tanker, feeder and bulker

Short Sea Shipping Vessels

Gas carriers

Global and local gas transportation – including LNGCs and gas carriers from large to small

Merchant-Gas-carrier-Smart-Propulsion-Machinery
  • View from bridge from Harmony of the Seas
    Explore: 4 trends that will affect shipping in 2026 - from big data to lifecycle optimisation

    Stay ahead in shipping: take a deep dive into four trends and technologies affecting the maritime industry in 2026. Wärtsilä’s experts reveal the trends in decarbonisation, digitalisation, lifecycle optimisation, and regulations.

    Discover the trends

Products and services

  • 3D drawing container ship on water
    How to be smarter about EU emissions reporting for your ship

    A handy tool that helps you plan, measure and report EUA costs. Accurately and easily!

    Learn more

Articles

View from bridge from Harmony of the Seas
3 Dec 2025 · Article
6 min read
From big data to lifecycle optimisation – 4 trends that will affect shipping in 2026
Take a deep dive into four trends and technologies that our...
Bow of TT-Line's MS Robin Hood
17 Jul 2025 · Article
5 min read
3 unexpected AI-powered strategies for improving your vessel efficiency
AI hype is everywhere, and the maritime industry is no exception. How can...
Wärtsilä service employee at work
24 Jun 2025 · Article
5 min read
12 amazingly simple ways to slash ship maintenance costs
Ship maintenance can be costly and time-consuming for owners and operators. To make it...
Engine room on Allure of the seas
18 Jun 2025 · Article
5 min read
How to protect ship crews from the biggest cause of engine room fires
Two out of three ship fires start in the engine room. What are the 4 top steps...
Rendering of a ship with electric propulsion from Wärtsilä
6 Jun 2025 · Article
5 min read
Four successful ways to electrify mechanical propulsion – from basic to brilliant
If your vessel uses mechanical propulsion, there are four proven...
Wärtsilä engine transportation
5 Jun 2025 · Article
7 min read
Planning a newbuild vessel? 6 eye-opening reasons a warranty is not enough
If you are planning a new vessel, you may think that as long as you have...

Webinars

14 Nov 2023 · Webinar
Tech Talk - What does the future hold for small merchant vessels?
Follow a fascinating panel debate! You will get insight that helps you develop...
Container ships at sea
5 Oct 2023 · Webinar
Real-world solutions for the Greek and Cypriot merchant fleet
This webinar will focus on real-world concepts that can help, from future fuels,...
Bulker and Tanker Webinar
9 Jun 2020 · Webinar
Smarter solutions for bulkers and tankers
Owners and managers of bulkers and tankers are under increasing pressure to maximize lifetime value and...

Customer stories from the merchant industry

Discover the benefits others have already gained from choosing Wärtsilä.

  • Teekay-reference
    Eco-friendly shuttle tanker

    A broad range of solutions for a new tanker class that reduces not only the environmental impact from the vessel itself but from the cargo too.

    Read more
  • Marfin HY Bulker reference
    Paolo Topic

    The integrated solution delivers a drastic reduction in fuel consumption and maintenance costs.

    Read more
  • Knutsen OAS banner
    Two new shuttle tankers for the KNOT Group

    featured with Wärtsilä Gas Solutions’ VOC Recovery and LNG fuel systems to lower their emissions of CO2​

    Read more
  • Aurora Spirit

    How Wärtsilä Expert Insight service prevented a costly engine failure on Aurora Spirit, a dual-fuel e-shuttle tanker.

    Read more about Wärtsilä Expert Insight
  • Gaslog reference slide picture
    GasLog Ltd.

    Maintenance agreement for the fleet of 15 LNG vessels

    Discover the lifecycle agreement solutions
  • Wärtsilä LNG Cargo System reference banner
    Wärtsilä’s LNG Cargo Handling System

    for a new 5400 m3 LNG bunker barge

    Read more
  • ACL Banner picture
    Atlantic Container Line

    Cost savings for 5 new Atlantic Container Line vessels

    Read more
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