WinGD, Wärtsilä and GTT Join Forces for LNG Propulsion

alt — Membrane-lined LNG fuel tank (GTT)

After working together on CMA CGM's new "megamax" container ships, engine maker WinGD, technology group Wärtsilä and LNG containment firm GTT have agreed to collaborate on future LNG propulsion projects. The firms say that working together will allow them to offer a streamlined way for shipowners to make the switch to liquefied natural gas.

LNG offers compliance and environmental advantages for the shipowner: it has a negligble sulfur content, so it satisfies the IMO 2020 SOx rules, and it produces 80 percent less NOx than conventional bunkers. As it is competitively priced, it is widely expected to become the leading alternative marine fuel in coming decades. “The conservative barriers that once resisted switching to a 'new' fuel are falling down, and LNG is now being accepted as a fuel for all types of ships,” said Timo Koponen, VP of processing solutions for Wärtsilä.

LNG is increasingly specified for some of the industry's highest-profile orders. Last year, CMA CGM ordered nine new "megamax" container ships, each with a record capacity of 22,000-plus TEU, to be built with LNG-fueled engines. They will be the largest container ships to operate on LNG. WinGD, Wärtsilä, and GTT cooperated closely in providing the equipment for these vessels, and through this experience, they decided to create a formal partnership.

“Operating on LNG fuel requires close integration between the engines, the fuel cargo tanks, and the fuel supply and control system. We are three companies having expertise in these fields, and by cooperating together we can optimise this integration process to the benefit of owners and operators around the world,” said Philippe Berterottière, chairman and CEO of GTT.

“High efficiency and environmental sustainability are key pillars in building a successful future for shipping,” said Rolf Stiefel, VP of sales and marketing at WinGD. “This is why it’s so important to work together, with other industry leaders, to make ship propulsion as efficient and ‘green’ as possible.”