Wärtsilä nets tech order for Arctic LNG 2 tankers

The Finnish technology group Wärtsilä was contracted to deliver a complete bridge systems installation for five icebreaking LNG-fueled tankers to be constructed for the Arctic LNG-2 project.

The navigational systems are delivered by Wärtsilä Voyage, the new business responsible for digital solutions and decision support tools to enhance safety and reliability of shipping operations.

The order with Wärtsilä Voyage was placed in the first quarter of 2020 and now is in process of execution, in partnership with Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard, Wärtsilä said in its statement.

Under the contract two equivalent bridges will be placed in vessels’ superstructure; one of them is turned 180 degrees from the conventional position. This peculiar construction will allow icebreakers to move both forward and aft, thus ensuring safe vessels navigation under adverse climate conditions of the Arctics.

Both navigation bridges of all five LNG tankers will be equipped with the Multifunction Display system consisting of 12 multifunction workstations with a full set of basic applications, including ECDIS, Radar, Conning navigation information display system, BAMS alarm tracking system, and Navi-Planner for advanced route planning.

The scope of Wärtsilä solutions also includes VSAT and IRIDIUM satellite communication systems.

The workstations are fully integrated into a unified system, which allows the main operational functions to be duplicated, thereby improving safety of ice navigation.

Similar sets of equipment were installed on gas-carriers built under Yamal LNG project during 2014-2018, with Christophe de Margerie as the lead ship in the series.

All the equipment installed onboard is fully compliant with the requirements of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) and Bureau Veritas (BV).

It is designed and tested to operate all-year-round in heavy Arctic conditions at temperatures down to 52°C below zero.

The installation of the equipment is scheduled for 2020-2023.

The Arctic LNG-2 project is dedicated to production, storage and shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas condensate from the Salmanovsky gas field of the Gydan Peninsula.

The project involves the construction of three LNG production lines with a capacity of 6.6 million tons per year, as well as stable gas condensate. The total capacity of three lines is projected to be 19.8 million tons of LNG per year.