| Wärtsilä has launched a new series of LNG carrier ship designs, a statement of the company said. This series of designs is the latest addition to Wärtsilä's ship design portfolio and an important part of the company's strategic programme themed 'Taking Merchant Shipping into the Gas Age'. The series comprises four vessel designs – WSD59 3K, WSD59 6.5K, WSD55 12K, and WSD50 20K – all of which have been developed in close co-operation with customers to produce vessels that are appropriate for the global LNG infrastructure and applicable for both oceangoing and inland water operations. In each case, fuel economy, performance guarantees, optional versions to meet specific needs, and the flexibility to choose particular features and solutions have been emphasised. "Wärtsilä ship design has an extensive reference list dating back to 2003 for vessel designs for LNG-fuelled ships. The experience and know-how that has been built up during these 15 years has been utilised to develop this latest series of designs for LNG carriers. 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," says Riku-Pekka Hägg, vice-president of ship design, Wärtsilä Ship Power. |