Launch of Wärtsilä’s upgraded tanker design

Wärtsilä has announced the launch of its SK 5054 MkII ship design, a further development and upgraded version of the successful SK 5054 design.

Gas as marine fuel

The Wärtsilä SK 5054 ship design has been used on over 60 vessels already built and in operation. The SK 5054 MkII version builds upon this strong foundation to offer a reliable and environmentally sound ship design that incorporates the latest Wärtsilä technology applied to its broad offering of solutions. In particular, the new design facilitates the use of gas (LNG) as a marine fuel, thereby making it especially applicable to ships that will operate within emission control areas.

This new design offers a 12% increase in energy efficiency over the original SK 5054 design. Other notable features include:

• Lower operational costs.
• An efficient cargo handling arrangement with minimised ballast capacity.
• An emphasis on ease of maintenance.
• A strong focus on crew safety.

LNG fuel technology

The design also uses Wärtsilä's LNG fuel technology, for which the company's extensive in-house knowledge concerning gas solutions has been utilised in the development work.

"The SK 5054 MkII design effectively raises the bar in terms of innovative designs that emphasise operational efficiency and environmental sustainability. In further improving an established and successful design to make it even better, we are meeting the needs of our customers for the challenges that the industry faces today, and at the same time, helping to take merchant shipping into the gas age," commented Riku-Pekka Hägg, Vice President, Wärtsilä Ship Design.

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/lng-shipping/09092014/wartsila-launches-upgraded-tanker-design-1372/