Maritime technology company Wärtsilä is to supply its hybrid propulsion system for 11 new pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) to be owned by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping.
Currently under construction at the Jingling and Weihai shipyards in China, the 200m-long, 18,600DWT vessels will benefit from optimized fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. Designed to be adaptable, Wärtsilä’s system will help to futureproof the ships and enable them to use cleaner alternative fuels, larger-capacity battery packs and solar panels or fuel cells.
The supply scope consists of Wärtsilä’s hybrid propulsion system complete with in-line shaft generators, converters, an energy storage system and the company’s energy management system to control the hybrid operations.
“Eastern Pacific Shipping is committed to lowering our carbon emissions as part of the industry’s energy transition,” said Captain Nadim Prasad, fleet director at Eastern Pacific Shipping. “Our decarbonization efforts include implementing state-of-the-art efficiency-improving technologies on our new-builds, preparing them for a zero-emissions future. We are pleased to partner with Wärtsilä on this important project as they have a like-minded approach and an outstanding track record in hybrid systems.”
“Electrification takes shipping an important step forward in the voyage toward decarbonization,” added Christian Heinsohn, general manager of global sales ship electrification solutions at Wärtsilä. “Wärtsilä has a leading market position in supplying vessels with hybrid propulsion systems, and we have been a pioneer in successfully delivering these systems for special and merchant vessels. This track record was clearly a major factor in the award of this very important hybrid vessel series order.”
Delivery of the vessels is expected to begin in 2024.