Wärtsilä extends relationship with CSSC

Under the new joint venture the companies will focus on China’s market for electrical and automation solutions for marine applications. The scope of the venture, which is expected to be operational at the beginning of 2017, will be further defined after the signing of a letter of intent on 16 March in Shanghai.

Jaakko Eskola, CEO, Wärtsilä, said: “Wärtsilä has a leading position in supplying E&A systems for high-end and offshore vessel applications. By combining our strengths in this field with the strong market position of CSSC, we can provide Asian owners and yards with the best possible solutions supported by local presence and capabilities.”

The joint venture is Wärtsilä’s fourth with CSSC. In 2004 the companies formed Wärtsilä CME Zhenjiang Propeller Co, producing fixed and controllable pitch ship propellers. In 2014, CSSC Wärtsilä Engine (Shanghai) Co was established for the local production of medium and large bore, medium-speed, diesel and dual-fuel Wärtsilä engines. In 2015 the two companies formed Winterthur Gas & Diesel (WinGD), which has taken over the technical development and sales of Wärtsilä’s range of two-stroke, low-speed marine engines.

The new cooperation with SDARI (also a subsidiary of CSSC) covers designs for various types of vessels for the offshore industry, and may be extended to other vessel types.

The collaboration will give customers access to companies’ joint ship design portfolio and enable the same supplier to manage the interface risk between the basic and detail design, traditionally been handled by two separate companies. “The overall relationship with ship owners and Chinese shipyards will be strengthened through shorter design development times, an in-depth knowledge of all applicable global rules and regulations, and production design capabilities,” Wärtsilä noted.

Roger Holm, president marine solutions and executive vice president, Wärtsilä, added: “This agreement represents another important milestone in the long and successful relationship between the CSSC group and Wärtsilä. By combining the competences and capabilities of the two companies, we will be able to serve ship owners and China’s shipyards even better.”