Wärtsilä Joins LNG-Powered Bulk Carrier Project

Aaron Bresnahan, Vice President, Sales, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions, says the project could eventually be applied to other types and sizes of merchant vessel.

Wärtsilä today announced it has joined Project Forward, an international group of shipping industry companies and organisations aiming to develop a commercially feasible liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered bulk carrier capable of complying with the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Energy Efficiency Design Index 2025 standards.

"Wärtsilä has been selected to participate in this important project because of our depth of experience in LNG propulsion solutions, our strong position in 4-stroke engine technology, and in particular because of the state-of-the-art Wärtsilä 31 engine," said Aaron Bresnahan, Vice President, Sales, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.

"This engine has not only taken efficiency to a new benchmark level, but in gas-mode is IMO Tier III compliant without the need for any exhaust cleaning systems. We are proud to be a part of this future-looking project, which could eventually be applied equally well to other types and sizes of merchant vessel."

Led by Athens-based Arista Shipping, Project Forward also involves Finnish ship designer Deltamarin, the Houston based classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and GTT, the French LNG membrane containment system designer.

"Project Forward aims to become a milestone for the shipping industry and in particular for owners and operators of cargo ships. Owners must decide within the next 5-10 years whether gas as fuel is a practical means of compliance with lower emissions standards and this project will enable all of us to understand its feasibility," said Arista Shipping Principal, Alexander P. Panagopulos.

"We welcome Wärtsilä's involvement, as it is a company with great experience in this field."

Last year Ship & Bunker reported that Project Forward was looking to base the design on Deltamarin's B.Delta design for ships between 82,000 DWT and 210,000 DWT, and use GTT's LNG containment system.