Wärtsilä receives first order for newbuild methanol-fuelled engines

The order, which includes the methanol fuel supply system, was placed in November 2021, with delivery of the equipment scheduled for early 2023. Wärtsilä will also supply thrusters for the vessel.

“We see methanol as one of the alternatives to meet the industry’s goals to reduce its environmental impact,” said Harold Linssen, Project Director, Van Oord. “We are pleased to be the pioneer of Wärtsilä’s latest methanol-fuelled engine technology.”

Wärtsilä recently signed a long-term strategic cooperation agreement with Chinese shipyard Yantai CIMC Raffles. The cooperation is aimed at the design and development of future-proof solutions for newbuild vessels. This will include the use of future carbon-free fuels and other integrated technology solutions.

Wärtsilä plans to commercialise engine technologies that allow the use of all alternative fuels currently under discussion. Given the modularity of modern engines, this means that owners can already today future-proof their existing assets and plan for the use of new fuels as and when they become available.

Wärtsilä has over half a decade’s experience with methanol, having converted the first of four engines on Stena Germanica to use the fuel in 2015.

In December 2021, Van Oord signed partnership agreements with LexX and Heliorec, two start-ups scouted through the innovation platform PortXL. The start-up Heliorec designs floating solar power plants. In collaboration with Van Oord, it will be investigating the use of floating solar to power an electric charging station, ultimately meant to charge Van Oord’s electrical unmanned survey vessels. The Australian start-up LexX offers digital intelligence for optimised maintenance. Under its agreement with Van Oord, it will develop a tool for the Survey Department to provide better access to more relevant and up-to-date data and documentation for employees, boosting productivity and safety worldwide.