Wärtsilä clinches new cargo and fuel systems contract for Vitol’s LNG bunker newbuild

December 12, 2024, by Sara Kosmajac

Finland’s Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, part of technology giant Wärtsilä, has bagged a contract to supply cargo handling and fuel gas supply systems for a new 12,500 cbm liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel being built by China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering shipyard (CIMC SOE) for global energy company Vitol.

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions will deliver Cargo Handling and Fuel Gas Supply System on a new 12,500 cbm LNG bunkering vessel is being built at the Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering shipyard in China. Credit: CIMC SOE

Representatives from Wärtsilä have described this development—the order for which was booked in Q4 2024—as an ‘important’ step in the company’s ambition to strengthen its position in the small-scale LNG application segment.

“LNG is an important marine fuel and is rapidly becoming the preferred choice for owners and operators seeking more sustainable fuel options. The market for LNG bunkering vessels is increasing in line with this trend, and we have established a leading position in supplying modern and reliable systems that optimize overall cargo handling efficiency for such vessels,” Richie Zhu, Sales Manager, Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, China, emphasized.

The vessel in question that will be fitted with Wärtsilä’s solutions is part of a duo ordered by Vitol in mid-2024. Together with its 20,000 cbm sister vessel, it is expected for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2026 and the third quarter of 2027, respectively.

As per the Finnish player, Wärtsilä has had a long-standing relationship with CIMC SOE and has supplied cargo handling systems for an array of LNG, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ethane/ethylene, and multi-gas carriers built by the yard.

In October 2023, CIMC SOE held a delivery signing ceremony for Italian shipowner Fratelli Cosulich’s 8,200 cbm LNG bunkering ship Alice Cosulich which was outfitted with Wartsila’s dual fuel technology, used in numerous marine propulsion and power production systems.

Just two months after that, Wärtsilä was awarded a contract to supply the cargo handling and fuel supply systems for four 40,000 cbm gas carrier vessels that were being built by CIMC SOE for Norway’s shipowner Avance Gas.