Supporting bulk carriers – Wärtsilä Marine Power

“Wärtsilä’s technical expertise and experience can support owners and operators of bulk carriers in many ways, such as with reducing fuel costs and optimizing maintenance processes, thus increasing the profitability and the lifetime of their vessel.” says Lilli Chi, General Manager, Technical Sales, Small Merchant — Wärtsilä Marine Power. She continues, “However, it’s important to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to this sector as the challenges faced by, and the priorities of, owners and operators of bulkers can vary significantly depending on factors related to the region, local market, vessel size and fleet.

“For retrofit projects, the focus is usually on extending the lifetime of a vessel and increasing cashflow, whilst remaining compliant with current and incoming regulation; whereas for newbuild, this is usually around futureproofing.

“Decarbonizing the industry is complex and a lot rides on getting it right. It’s a multi-decade puzzle that is constantly evolving. It’s why owners and operators of bulkers need a partner with the technical know-how and focus on their customers commercial needs to deliver the decarbonization solutions that are right for them.”

Customer case studies

1.

Aasen Shipping

When Norwegian shipper Aasen decided to build two new self-discharging bulk carriers, it naturally wanted them to be as fuel efficient as possible. The solution was a fully integrated Wärtsilä HY hybrid system, proven to offer outstanding reliability and performance while cutting fuel consumption and emissions.

By combining a Wärtsilä engine with batteries and an intelligent energy management system, the new vessel design would deliver even bigger savings for two newbuild self-discharging bulk carriers — the Aasfjell and Aasfoss. Together, the hybrid system, electrically powered machinery, optimized hull design and additional cargo capacity were projected to cut fuel consumption and emissions by 50% compared to standard self-discharging vessels of a similar size.

The full scope of the hybrid system for both ships included:

Wärtsilä 26 main engine; v power take-off/power take-in v (PTO/PTI) gearbox and controllable pitch propeller; DC switchboard; and v battery pack and energy management v system.

2. CARISBROOKE SHIPPING

Last year Wärtsilä announced that its customer Carisbrooke Shipping has reported a saving of over 600 tonnes of CO2 emissions since the beginning of the year, with the help of Wärtsilä’s Fleet Optimisation Solution (FOS). Since implementing FOS across 31 vessels in 2019, Carisbrooke Shipping has been using the platform to gather insights that have supported the UK-based dry bulk and general cargo ship operator in its objectives around reducing carbon emissions and ensuring fleet performance, which is core to the company’s current strategy.

Carisbrooke’s Fleet Operations Centre is responsible for monitoring vessel position, passage plans and routes, advising on maximizing cargo intake, and monitoring vessel safety and performance. Around 25 vessels are reviewed daily and an average of 20 voyages are optimized per month. Having insight into the efficiency of a vessel at any given time enables the company to take action to optimize fuel consumption across its vessels. Already, Carisbrooke Shipping has reported fuel savings of 5–7% since the roll-out of FOS.

3. MISJE REDERI

The bulk carrier Misje Vita is the latest step on Misje Rederi’s journey to build one of the world’s cleanest and most sustainable fleets. Misje Vita has the Wärtsilä HY hybrid system onboard, which combines engines and batteries and is designed to optimize the propulsion system’s response to changing conditions. This greatly enhances the vessel’s fuel efficiency and overall performance.

Because the Wärtsilä HY hybrid system has a high level of flexibility, it allows the engine to operate in the most efficient way possible, saving fuel and emissions. It also allows the Misje Vita to sail in and out of port and carry out cargo operations purely on battery power. This helps the vessel to comply with ever-stricter port emissions regulations. In addition, it means there is less need to use the auxiliary engines during operation, which has a direct impact on the vessel’s CII rating.

The Misje Vita was designed by Wartsila Ship Design, and Wärtsilä supplied the complete hybrid system including: Wärtsilä 20 main engine v Wärtsilä NOx Reducer; v power transmission system and v electrical and automation systems; controllable pitch propeller; v Wärtsilä ProTouch bridge control v system; and hybrid battery solution and energy v management system (EMS).

3. TRANSWORLD SHIP MANAGEMENT

Wärtsilä announced in June that it will partner with Transworld Group to apply the most advanced decarbonization modelling capabilities to the bulk carriers sector of Orient Express lines of Dubai, owned by Transworld Group and Managed by Transworld Ship Management (TWSM), one of India’s premium private sector ship management firms. The aim of the project is to provide decision-making support by simulating the impact of efficiency upgrade technologies on the vessel’s environmental performance.

By creating and validating a digital model of the ‘TBC Prestige’ based on measured real-life data, various technology solutions can be simulated and assessed. The technology simulations will indicate their effect on emissions profiling, the impact on the ship’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) rating, and Return on Investment (ROI) calculations. This is the first such modelling project for the Indian maritime market. The modelling is part of the Wärtsilä’s Decarbonisation Services offering.

4. MARFIN MANAGEMENT AND SOLBIAN

At the end of 2021, Wärtsilä’s announced that it had completed the installation and commissioning of a unique hybrid power system combined with a PV solar energy system in collaboration with Marfin Management and Solbian, onboard a bulk carrier vessel, making it one of the most technologically advanced vessel of its type in the global fleet.

The innovative, fully integrated Wärtsilä HY Module solution includes, an energy management system and batteries that delivers auxiliary power to the grid. When coupled with other sources of energy such as PV panels the benefits are enhanced. It will address the marine sector’s major challenges to lower operating costs while simultaneously reducing environmental impact.

The solution achieves this through significant reductions in fuel consumption and maintenance needs, while offering cleaner, safer, and more efficient operations.