Wärtsilä Unveils Latest Bunker Saving Hybrid Design

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Tuesday August 16, 2016

Wärtsilä Corporation (Wärtsilä) Tuesday announced that Wärtsilä Ship Design has introduced a new bunker saving stern trawler design that features the company's hybrid battery technology, and provides "significant" energy efficiency gains compared to conventional systems.

The hybrid battery technology is noted to deliver increased vessel efficiency to the Wärtsilä VS 6215 ST stern trawler design by running the engine at optimal load and absorbing most load fluctuations.

"The propulsion system is based upon the Wärtsilä 31 engine, which has been recognised by Guinness World Records as being the world's most efficient 4-stroke diesel engine," said Wärtsilä.

"The combination of an optimised hull and a propulsion system driven by the Wärtsilä 31 engine sets this design apart from anything seen before in this market segment."

The trawler design is said to also feature Wärtsilä's 2-speed gearbox, which provides further reductions in fuel consumption and associated emissions.

"Our new design features the very latest technologies, and has been developed to offer the fishing industry lower fuel costs and greater possibilities for profitable operations," said Riku-Pekka Hägg, Vice President of Ship Design at Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.

Wärtsilä notes that its new stern trawler design will be displayed at its booth at the Nor-Fishing 2016 conference and exhibition, which is set to run from August 16 to 19 in Trondheim, Norway.

In July, Wärtsilä said a new hybrid ferry being built for UK operator Wightlink at Turkey's Cemre Shipyard, would be able to run on both conventional fuel and battery power, and would be the first ferry to feature Wärtsilä's hybrid battery technology.