Wärtsilä has signed a contract with the STX Finland Oy shipyard in Rauma, Finland, to deliver four Wärtsilä 32 engines for a Polar Supply and Research Vessel. The Owner of the vessel will be the Republic of South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs. The vessel’s crew will be trained at the Wärtsilä Land and Sea Academy in Turku, Finland.
“This vessel order is one of the biggest single trade agreements ever between Finnish industry and South Africa, and we hope it will lead to additional business. We believe that by providing reliable technology and the highest levels of quality and service, we will benefit also in the future,” says Mr Timo Suistio, Director, Rauma shipyard of STX Finland Oy. STX Finland announced the vessel order in November last year.
The vessel will be approximately 134 metres long and will have accommodation for 45 crew and about 100 researchers and passengers. Wärtsilä’s engine deliveries are scheduled to take place in February 2011. The vessel will be launched in March 2012.
The vessel is being built for research activities and expeditions. It will be used to carry equipment and scientists working on the South African National Antarctic Programme, and it will also have ice-breaking capabilities.
“As it will be operating in extreme conditions, the new vessel will need to be very reliable. It will also have to act as a tanker, because it will need to carry fuel oil for use at the Antarctic base. Every drop of fuel oil in the consumption chain will count. Wärtsilä 32 engines offer both low rates of fuel consumption and low levels of emissions, an important consideration when operating in the Antarctic’s vulnerable natural environment,” says Jukka Paananen, Sales Director, Wärtsilä Ship Power.
Wärtsilä has worked closely with STX Finland Oy for many years, and has a good relationship with the South African Department of Environmental Affairs. The new vessel will replace the Agulhas, which is equipped with Wärtsilä controllable pitch propellers. The Department also owns a patrol vessel equipped with Wärtsilä main engines and propellers.
Link to a picture
Caption: The new Polar Supply and Research Vessel to be built by STX Finland Oy, shipyard in Rauma, will be equipped with four Wärtsilä 32 engines.
For further information, please contact
Mr Jukka Paananen
Sales Director
Wärtsilä Ship Power
Tel: +358 40 8246647
jukka.paananen@wartsila.com
Ms Tuula Franck
Senior Manager, External Communications
Wärtsilä Corporation
Tel: +350 400267555
tuula.franck@wartsila.com
Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total efficiency, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers.
In 2009, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 5.3 billion with more than 18,000 employees. The company has operations in 160 locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland.
Trade press version of this release
