Ship Power Technology News

ABB will install Port of Incheon’s first shore-to-ship power solution, enabling passenger vessels to cut emissions, noise and vibrations at berthABB has secured the contract covering South Korea’s commitment to sustainable shore-to-ship power, after a pilot scheme for passenger ships to plug into the local grid received the go ahead from Incheon Port Authority (IPA).In addition to a new $160 million ferry terminal opened in April 2019, Port of Incheon inaugurated South Korea’s largest cruise terminal in June this year.

Corvus Energy supplies world's first commercial ship with a fuel cell specially adapted for marine use. Following the success of the installation and demonstration of the fuel cell power pack on board, Viking Lady recently entered into a third project phase in which energy storage capability in the form of Corvus’ AT6500 lithium-polymer battery pack is being integrated in the power system. The lithium-polymer battery is comprised of 6.5 kWh modules, has a capacity of 455 kWh, and is capable of delivering up to 4MWh bursts over a short period of time.

Wärtsilä has launched its new Medium Voltage Power Drive. The product will enable the delivery of electro and automation systems for large, electric propulsion vessels, such as drilling rigs and tankers, large passenger and cruise ships, various offshore service vessels, as well as compressors and pumps for the oil & gas industry. The addition of this medium voltage unit to the low voltage power drive range  Wärtsilä has offered since 2005 further enhances the company's total solutions offering to the shipping industry. Wärtsilä's new Medium Voltage Power drive is especially designed for marine applications, while the previous units in this range were first developed for land-based applications.

Algoma Central Corporation has chosen Wärtsilä to supply complete propulsion systems with integrated scrubbers for six Great Lakes vessels. The full propulsion system with integrated fresh water scrubber lowers operating costs while reducing the vessel's environmental footprint by allowing owners to use high sulphur fuels in Emission Control Area (ECA) Zones and meet sulphur emissions restrictions. This represents the first order for the new integrated Wärtsilä scrubber concept.

Wärtsilä has been assigned overall responsibility for systems integration in the pioneering FellowSHIP project. Wärtsilä's specially designed equipment is being used to integrate and create synergies between marine technology and state-of-the-art fuel cell technology. The equipment has been installed onboard the platform supply vessel Viking Lady for extensive sea tests. The innovative solution is seen as being an important contributor in the development of environmentally sustainable marine propulsion systems.

Wärtsilä has acquired the global ship design group Vik-Sandvik, an independent group providing design and engineering services to ship owners and the ship building industry worldwide. The value of the acquisition is $169.9m, with an additional maximum sum of $48.9m to be paid based on the performance of the business over the next three years. In 2007, Vik-Sandvik’s turnover was $70.8 millions and the profitability is on a very good level. The number of employees is 410. The role of ship design is becoming more and more important due to higher performance requirements…

Wärtsilä has acquired the global ship design group Vik-Sandvik, an independent group providing design and engineering services to ship owners and the ship building industry worldwide. The value of the acquisition is $209.5m, with an additional maximum sum of $60m to be paid based on the performance of the business over the next three years. In 2007, Vik-Sandvik's turnover was $87m and the profitability is on a very good level. The number of employees is 410. The role of ship design is becoming more and more important due to higher performance requirements, more sophisticated systems, and increased integration onboard most vessels. Also, the environmental and emission regulations regarding NOx and CO2 are becoming increasingly stringent.

Wärtsilä's Ship Power is in the process of reorganizing into five Ship Power Business Segments: Merchant, Offshore, Cruise & Ferry, Navy, and Special Vessels. The aim is to respond better to market requirements, in terms of value proposition and technology development, as well as to be prepared for market fluctuations. In announcing the new business structure Jaakko Eskola, Group Vice President, Ship Power, stated: "We are experiencing an unparalleled upturn in our industry, and we are enjoying record order intake levels. However, it is important that we continue to seek ways to further increase our competitive edge on the market. The rollout of the new model started on July 1, 2007 and will be fully set up by the end of the year.