Wartsila receives methanol engine order

Wärtsilä (a Finnish company that manufactures and services power sources and other equipment in the marine and energy market) has received its first order for newbuild methanol-fuelled engines with the delivery of the equipment scheduled for early 2023.

A new Offshore Wind Installation Vessel (WIV) is being built for Dutch contracting company Van Oord at Yantai CIMC Raffles shipyard in China will be powered by five Wärtsilä 32 engines capable of operating with methanol.

The methanol engine order extends Wärtsilä’s leading position to support the maritime industry’s decarbonisation ambitions and fuel use. Wärtsilä also converted the first of four engines on Stena Germanica to use the fuel in 2015.

Green methanol is among the potential and most promising future fuel candidates. It is made using hydrogen from renewable-sourced electricity and recaptured carbon. It is relatively inexpensive to produce and is easy to store, where the global supply infrastructure is already established.

Wärtsilä recently signed a long-term strategic cooperation agreement with Chinese shipyard Yantai CIMC Raffles, which aimed to design and develop future-proof solutions for newbuild vessels. This will include using future carbon-free fuels and other integrated technology solutions.

Harold Linssen, Project Director, Van Oord, said, “We see methanol as one of the alternatives to meet the industry’s goals to reduce its environmental impact.”

Li Minggao, VP at CIMC Raffles, added, “Leveraging the combined strengths of Yantai CIMC Raffles and Wärtsilä will ensure that we can deliver the best solutions to support our customers on their path to lower emissions.”

Roger Holm, President, Wärtsilä Marine Power, commented, “These cooperations will speed the work in bringing these fuels to the market, and in building ships that meet and exceed the regulatory and operational requirements for the coming decades.”