Wärtsilä wins first Vietnamese contract

Hanoi: Wärtsilä has signed a contract with Vietnamese state owned shipbuilder Vinashin to supply fixed pitch (FP) propellers (pictured) for a series of five bulk carriers under construction for UK-based shipowner Graig Group.

Although Wärtsilä previously supplied propulsion equipment for Graig's Diamond 53 bulk carrier series, this is the company's first FP propeller contract from a Vietnamese shipyard. The first propeller is due for delivery in August for installation to a double-hulled, handy-size Diamond 34K bulker under construction at Vinashin's Pha Rung shipyard. The first vessel is due for delivery to Graig in November 2007.
 
Wärtsilä Ship Power Business vp, Jaakko Eskola said "Vietnam is increasingly becoming an important player in the global shipbuilding market and we are pleased that Vinashin has offered Wärtsilä this opportunity to supply our propulsion equipment to this emerging shipbuilding force."  [26/01/07]