Vaasa Factory News

The second part of Wärtsilä's business analysis, started last autumn, has now been finalized. In addition to reductions in capacity already decided, the company also plans to discontinue engine manufacture at its Turku factory. The manufacture of large engines will be centered at Trieste, Italy. Under this plan the Turku unit will concentrate on service and maintenance activities. The Turku unit employs 680 at the moment. Consultations related to this plan will be started in Finland with personnel representatives on the reduction of about 480 employees in Turku. The number of employees in the Turku unit is estimated to be approximately 200 in the structure. The Trieste factory, the Group's largest in size, is equipped to manufacture a number of products simultaneously.

Wärtsilä Corporation received a contract to supply main diesel generating sets for a 19,500 dwt product/chemical tanker being built at Shanghai Edward Shipbuilding in the People's Republic of China. Delivery of the ship is scheduled in August 2005. Ordered by Sweden’s Rederi AB Donsötank, the newbuilding is a double-acting tanker (DAT) which is optimized for efficient ice-breaking when going astern and for efficient sailing in open water when going ahead. Propulsion is by a single electrically-driven azimuthing propeller drive.

Wärtsilä Corp. has reported a healthy increase in orders for Sulzer RTA-series low-speed engines to be manufactured in the group's Trieste factory in Italy. This year orders have been booked for 16 such engines with an aggregate power of 351.7 MW for delivery to European shipyards. Together with Sulzer low-speed engines, the factory builds a wide range of four-stroke types from the Wärtsilä 26X through the Sulzer ZA40S up to the Wärtsilä 64 type. Since the factory came under Wärtsilä management in 1997, considerable efforts have been put intomaking the factory more competitive, not just within Europe but on a world basis. The first order this year was for four Sulzer 7RTA72U-B low-speed engines for the German shipyard Aker MTW Werft GmbH in Wismar on the Baltic coast.

For the year 2000, Wärtsilä Corporation reports that 24 Sulzer RTA84T low-speed diesel engines with an aggregate power output of 713.4 MW (970,800 bhp) have been ordered for installation in very large tankers contracted at shipyards in China, Japan and South Korea. The engines will all be built by licensees of Wärtsilä in Japan and Korea. Altogether there are now 78 Sulzer RTA84T engines (including the -B and -D versions) delivered or on order, with a combined output of 2171.9 MW (2.95 million bhp). Ten 305,000 dwt oil tankers recently contracted in China and South Korea by National Iranian Tanker Co (NITC) will each be propelled by a seven-cylinder Sulzer RTA84T-B low-speed diesel engine.

For the year 2000, Wärtsilä Corporation reports that 24 Sulzer RTA84T low-speed diesel engines with an aggregate power output of 713.4 MW (970,800 bhp) have been ordered for installation in very large tankers contracted at shipyards in China, Japan and South Korea. The engines will all be built by licensees of Wärtsilä in Japan and Korea. Altogether there are now 78 Sulzer RTA84T engines (including the -B and -D versions) delivered or on order, with a combined output of 2,171.9 MW (2.95 million bhp). Ten 305,000 dwt oil tankers recently contracted in China and South Korea by National Iranian Tanker Co (NITC) will each be propelled by a seven-cylinder Sulzer RTA84T-B low-speed diesel engine.

Wismar, Germany. rev/min. of 1020 kW at the same speed. in Finland. 2003 and February 2004. Kvaerner Yards. 2004. of 29.8 m. They have stowage for 2478 TEU with 200 reefer sockets. The ships' service speed is 22.3 knots on a design draught of 10.1 m. generating sets. having been delivered in 2001.