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Wärtsilä delivers engines to South African Polar Supply and
Research Vessel
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Wärtsilä has signed a contract with the STX
Finland Oy shipyard in Rauma, Finland, to deliver four Wärtsilä 32
engines for a Polar Supply and Research Vessel. The Owner of the
vessel will be the Republic of South Africa’s Department of
Environmental Affairs, and it will be operated by SMIT Amandla
Marine, of South Africa. The vessel’s crew will be trained at the
Wärtsilä Land and Sea Academy in Turku, Finland.
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“This vessel order is one of the biggest single trade agreements
ever between Finnish industry and South Africa, and we hope it
will lead to additional business. We believe that by providing
reliable technology and the highest levels of quality and service,
we will benefit also in the future,” says Mr Timo Suistio,
Director, Rauma shipyard of STX Finland Oy.
The ice-strengthened vessel will be powered by four 6-cylinder
in-line Wärtsilä 32 engines. It will be approximately 134 metres
long and will have accommodation for 45 crew and about 100
researchers and passengers. Construction of the vessel began in
January 2010 and will be launched in March 2012. Wärtsilä’s engine
deliveries are scheduled to take place in February 2011.
The vessel is being built for research activities and expeditions,
but since it will be used to carry equipment and scientists
working on the South African National Antarctic Programme, it will
also have ice-breaking capabilities. Expeditions will take place
during the Antarctic summer, starting at the end of December and
continuing until the beginning of March. During the remainder of
the year, it will serve as a supply vessel for three research
centres located on Antarctic islands.
As a mobile research facility, the new vessel will be equipped
with a laboratory so that scientists can conduct marine research
while on board. Weather data for meteorological institutes around
the world will also be collected. Classified as a passenger ship,
the new vessel will feature some of the facilities found on cruise
ships, including comfortable passenger accommodation, a gym, a
library and a small hospital. It will also have a shelter and
landing area for two Puma class helicopters.
“As it will be operating in extreme conditions, the new vessel
will need to be very reliable. It will also have to act as a
tanker, because it will need to carry fuel oil for use at the
Antarctic base. Every drop of fuel oil in the consumption chain
will count. Wärtsilä 32 engines offer both low rates of fuel
consumption and low levels of emissions, an important
consideration when operating in the Antarctic’s vulnerable natural
environment,” says Jukka Paananen, Business Manager, Wärtsilä Ship
Power.
Wärtsilä has worked closely with STX Finland Oy for many years,
and has a good relationship with the South African Department of
Environmental Affairs. The new vessel will replace the Agulhas,
the department's previous expedition vessel, built in 1982 and
equipped with Wärtsilä controllable pitch propellers. The
Department also owns a patrol vessel equipped with Wärtsilä main
engines and propellers.
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World Fishing Today March 1 2010 |
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