Wärtsilä launches Aframax tanker

Wärtsilä has launched a new, highly efficient, Aframax tanker design offering practical and viable solutions that meet current and forthcoming emissions legislation.

The new Aframax design emphasises energy efficiency to provide lower operating costs and enhanced environmental performance. It features an optimised hull form to minimise resistance, and an optimised propulsion train with energy saving devices (ESDs) for greater efficiency. Fuel savings have been the primary focus during the development of this design, and significant testing of the hull lines by both CFD and tank testing have successfully produced a highly competitive design.

Wärtsilä offers the Aframax design in three, fit-for-purpose versions: the ‘Basic’ configuration using conventional HFO fuel, ‘Environmental’ with the exhaust emissions cleaned using a scrubber and selective catalyst reduction (SCR), and the ‘Green’ version based on dual-fuel engines using LNG. The design can also be adapted for Ice Class notation.

“[Wärtsilä’s] focus is always on lowering operating costs and increasing fuel efficiency, and these elements are clearly evident in the new Aframax design. In particular, our technology leadership in dual-fuel engines and LNG fuel systems gives us […] advantages in developing ship designs for gas fuel propulsion,” says Riku-Pekka Hägg, Vice President Wärtsilä Ship Design.

Adapted from press release by Callum O'Reilly

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/lng-shipping/04062014/wartsila_launches_aframax_tanker_707/