Wärtsilä Launches Four New LNG Carrier Designs "as Shipping Moves into the Gas Age"

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Tuesday March 24, 2015

Wärtsilä Corporation has launched four new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier designs to take the company into the "gas age."

The four designs, WSD59 3K, WSD59 6.5K, WSD55 12K, and WSD50 20K, were developed with both ocean-going and inland operations in mind, with an emphasis fuel efficiency and customisation of features, the company said. 

"The experience and know-how that has been built up during these 15 years has been utilised to develop this latest series of world class designs for LNG Carriers," said Riku-Pekka Hägg, Vice President of Ship Design for Wärtsilä Ship Power.

"The entire concept of these designs is to enable the lowest possible fuel consumption, to allow owners to select the ship design that exactly meets their needs, and to provide shipyards with the most convenient and cost effective packages possible.” 

Wärtsilä also added that the fuel consumption of the WSD55 12K and the WSD50 20K make both designs the best in their classes. 

Late last year, Wärtsilä commented that the "world is switching to natural gas," adding that the company is aiming to have a leading role in end-to-end LNG systems.