Wärtsilä Shows Upgraded Tankship Design at SMM
Wärtsilä says it has launched its new SK 5054 MkII chemical and oil products tanker design at the current SMM conference and exhibition in Hamburg, Germany.
The proven Wärtsilä SK 5054 ship design has been used for more than 60 vessels already built and in operation. The SK 5054 MkII version builds upon this strong foundation to offer a reliable and environmentally sound ship design that incorporates the latest Wärtsilä technology applied to its broad offering of solutions. In particular, the new design facilitates the use of gas as a marine fuel, thereby making it especially applicable to ships that will operate within emission control areas (ECAs).
This new design offers a 12% increase in energy efficiency over the original SK 5054 design. Other notable features include lower operational costs, an efficient cargo handling arrangement with minimised ballast capacity, an emphasis on ease of maintenance, and a strong focus on crew safety. The design also implements Wärtsilä's state-of-the-art LNG fuel technology, for which the company's extensive in-house knowledge concerning gas solutions has been utilised in the development work.
"The SK 5054 MkII design effectively raises the bar in terms of innovative designs that emphasise operational efficiency and environmental sustainability. In further improving an established and successful design to make it even better, we are meeting the needs of our customers for the challenges that the industry faces today, and at the same time, helping to take merchant shipping into the gas age," says Riku-Pekka Hägg, Vice President, Wärtsilä Ship Design.
The new tanker design represents the basis for a successful integration of all relevant Wärtsilä products and solutions, thus enabling optimal performance throughout the vessel's lifecycle.