FSRU, LNG Vessels Get Power, Maintenance Solutions

Wärtsilä has been contracted to provide both equipment and maintenance for a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier vessels of Norwegian operator Höegh LNG.

The orders were booked in the first quarter of 2017.

Two new 170 000 m³ LNG carrier vessels being built for Höegh LNG at the Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyards in Korea will each be powered by four Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines. There is an option for a further three vessels in the SHI series.

The two vessels will also incorporate the latest Wärtsilä regasification technology to operate as FSRUs. The regasification solution to be supplied to these vessels represents Wärtsilä’s latest development in this field, the company said. It is based upon the use of seawater and glycol as the intermediate heating medium, a lighter and less space demanding alternative than earlier systems with a propane based heating system, the company said. By using seawater as opposed to steam heated solutions, the CO² emissions are notably reduced. Furthermore, it will be delivered as a complete module, thereby making installation easy, the company said.

Under a new five-year technical management agreement, Wärtsilä will provide support for eight ships of the company’s existing fleet as well as for its two new vessels currently under construction. The services of the technical management agreement include condition based maintenance (CBM) meant to optimize the availability, reliability and performance of the Wärtsilä engines. It also includes maintenance planning and advisory services involving the combined technical expertise of both Wärtsilä and Höegh LNG specialists. The customer will also have access to Wärtsilä’s extensive global service network.

“Our long-standing relationship with Höegh LNG is again strengthened through this supply of our state-of-the-art engines and regasification systems, as well as the technical management agreement that will ensure optimal performance of the company’s entire fleet,” said Cato Esperø, sales director, Wärtsilä Norway.

“We have confidence in Wärtsilä as a provider of well designed and engineered solutions, and are pleased with the choice of a strong provider as regards to the engines and regasification systems, said Øivin Iversen, chief technical officer at Höegh LNG.