Wartsila to Supply Propulsion to Six New Pipe Laying Vessels

Wärtsilä, the marine industry’s leading solutions and services provider, has received a significant order to supply the propulsion solutions for six new offshore pipe laying vessels being built by IHC Merwede, a global leader in delivering efficient vessels and equipment.

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 8-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 de-mountable 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 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.