World News
New Aframax Design Focused on Fuel Efficiency
Wärtsilä Corp. (Wärtsilä) says it has launched a new, highly efficient design for Aframax tankers.
The design was created with a primary focus on fuel efficiency and includes an optimised hull form and propulsion train.
The tankers can be built with three configurations: a basic version using heavy fuel oil (HFO), a model that reduces pollution with a scrubber and selective catalyst reduction (SCR), and a dual-fuel version capable of running on liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The design can also be adapted for Ice Class notation.
"Our focus is always on lowering operating costs and increasing fuel efficiency, and these elements are clearly evident in the new Aframax design," said Riku-Pekka Hägg, vice president of Wärtsilä Ship Design.
"In particular, our technology leadership in dual-fuel engines and LNG fuel systems gives us obvious advantages in developing ship designs for gas fuel propulsion.
"We are leading the way in taking merchant shipping into the gas fuel age."
The ship is being exhibited at the Posidonia 2014 exhibition in Athens, Greece.
Wärtsilä said last fall that its business plan calls for taking advantage of growing interest in fuel efficiency in the marine market.