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Wärtsilä, Hudong-Zhonghua and ABS to develop IMO2050 modular LNG carrier

Image: ABS Wärtsilä LNGC.png
Wärtsilä, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding and ABS will collaborate on developing a flexible, future-proof, and modular LNG Carrier (LNGC) vessel concept.

The pioneering design approach for the Multi-Fuel Electric vessel is intended to deliver immediate CO2 savings, and to be ready for the adoption of future decarbonisation technologies to support the marine industrys ambitions towards zero-emission shipping, commented Wärtsilä.

Wärtsiläs Integrated Systems and Solutions experts are working alongside specialists from ABS Global Simulation Center and Global Sustainability Center in Singapore, Houston and Athens and Hudong Zhonghuas R&D and LNGC design team in Shanghai to evaluate the vessels performance against the IMOs Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) up to at least 2050. 

The LNGC will be highly flexible and the entire vessel design will be optimised around a compact, electrified, integrated, and efficient propulsion power solution that will lead to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions immediately. 

The evolving demands of the CII mean vessels will need to be ready to continuously adapt to improve their rating and remain viable for the duration of their operational life. Advanced multi-physics modelling and simulation techniques enable the development of a vessel with a strong CII profile at launch that is also equipped to take advantage of future decarbonization technologies as they mature,” said Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President, Global Engineering and Technology.

Shipowners are currently faced with unprecedented challenges and uncertainties as they attempt to plan for their fleets to meet the IMOs CII trajectory of -70% by 2050. What is certain is that this planning must start now in order to safeguard a future-proof newbuild vessel design,” says Stefan Nysjö, Vice President, Power Supply, Wärtsilä Marine Power.

We are very glad to closely work together with Wärtsilä and ABS to develop the new generation of LNG carriers offering a low-carbon footprint and low OPEX cost. This state-of-the-art hybrid solution will be developed to power the future LNG carrier, enabling dual-fuel engines to run always at their best efficiency and providing flexible power supply modes to adapt to various load demands,” said Song Wei, R&D Deputy Director of Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding.

The design will also be ready to efficiently integrate new technologies in the future in order to stay ahead of the requirements of CII.