Wärtsilä to Supply Propulsion for Six Offshore Brazil PLVs

Wärtsilä received a significant order to supply the propulsion solutions for six new offshore pipe laying vessels being built by IHC Merwede. Three of the ships are to be built for Subsea 7, the seabed-to-surface engineering, construction, and services contractor to the offshore energy industry. The other three vessels have been ordered by Seabras Sapura, the Sapura Kencana and Seadrill partnership entity.

All six vessels are scheduled to be delivered during the first half of 2015 and the second half of 2016. They will be deployed to serve the Brazilian offshore market by Petrobras, the multi-national energy corporation. Wärtsilä signed its supply order for the first vessel in the second quarter of 2013, and the remaining orders in the third quarter. The scope of supply for each ship comprises six eight-cylinder Wärtsilä 32 engines, two transverse thrusters, two retractable thrusters, and three steerable underwater de-mountable thrusters. Wärtsilä's ability to secure easy and quick changing of the underwater demountable thrusters was especially important to the customer.

The contracts call for a tight delivery schedule, and Wärtsilä's ability to meet this requirement with equipment and machinery that provide the necessary quality, reliability and efficiency, was another key factor in the award of the contracts. Wärtsilä will begin deliveries already in February 2014, with further deliveries following at four month intervals.

"These are very important orders that underscore Wärtsilä's outstanding reputation for serving the offshore sector with solutions that meet the most demanding expectations. The delivery schedule is challenging, but we have frequently demonstrated that our world class manufacturing and logistics processes can handle fast-track projects such as these," says Mr Aaron Bresnahan, Vice President Sales, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

Both Subsea 7 and Sapura Kencana already have vessels with similar Wärtsilä equipment installed, and Wärtsilä has enjoyed a long-standing and successful relationship with IHC Merwede. Furthermore, for Subsea7, Wärtsilä has an existing worldwide services and spare parts contract.

Wärtsilä's scope of delivery per shipset:
two transverse thruster FT300H-D
two retractable thruster FS1510/MNR
three steerable underwater demountable thruster FS2510/NU
six eight-cylinder Wärtsilä 32 engines

The specifications of the Type 550 pipe laying vessels:
Overall length: 145.97m
Breadth: 29.94m
Depth main deck: 13m
Summer draught: 8.3m
Scantling draught: 8.5m
Draft (max): 8.3m
Deadweight at summer draught: 10,800t
Accommodation: 120 people

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