Wärtsilä to power LNG-fuelled icebreaker

Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines will power a new icebreaker being built by Arctech Helsinki Shipyard for the Finnish Transport Agency. The engines are capable of operating on both LNG and low sulfur diesel fuel.

The new icebreaker is set to launch in 2015. It willbe the first LNG-powered icebreaker in the world.

The use of LNG as the engine fuel will reduce both exhaust emissions and fuel costs.

The full scope of supply includes one 8-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF, two 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 34DF, and two 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 34DF engines.

The contract was signed in March 2014, and delivery of the equipment to the yard will be made in spring 2015.

Esko Mustamäki, Managing Director of Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, said: “The new icebreaker features the highest technology and will be built especially to operate in the demanding winter conditions of the northernmost Baltic Sea. By being able to use LNG fuel, the vessel will be the most environmentally friendly icebreaker ever built.”

Aaron Bresnahan, Vice President, Sales, Wärtsilä Ship Power, added: “We are the industry leaders in gas fuelled vessel equipment, and are proud to supply the world’s first LNG powered icebreaker with engines powerful enough to meet the customer’s requirements. The combination of ice breaking power and environmental sustainability is difficult to achieve, but our dual-fuel engine technology has the capabilities needed.”

The vessel will be able to move continuously through 1.6 m thick ice, and be capable of breaking a 25 m wide channel in 1.2 m thick ice at a speed of 6 knots. It will also be able to reach an average assistance speed of 9 to 11 knots and in open water the service speed will be a minimum of 16 knots. While the main purpose of the vessel is icebreaking, it will independently be able to perform oil spill response operations and emergency towing under demanding conditions both in winter and summer. The vessel will, therefore, operate all year round to ensure safe seaborne transports in the Baltic Sea.

Adapted from press release by Callum O'Reilly

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/lng-shipping/10062014/wartsila_to_power_lng-fuelled_icebreaker_729/