Wärtsilä equips biggest ever ethane carriers

Expected to be delivered between the end of 2016 and early 2017, each 87,000 cu m vessel will be provided with a complete Wärtsilä cargo-handling package, including process and arrangement engineering, deck tank, and all equipment related to the cargo handling.

Deployed carrying ethane extracted from US shale gas to India, each vessel will also be equipped with a purpose-built reliquefaction plant to handle the C-ethane from the US shale gas.

"This is a valuable order and one that again emphasises Wärtsilä's competences and experience in gas handling systems,” said Timo Koponen, vp of Wärtsilä Ship Power - Flow and Gas Solutions. “These state-of-the-art ethane carriers require state-of-the-art gas handling systems. Our technology and know-how in this field uniquely positions us to offer the most appropriate solutions for VLEC's, which is an application that is rapidly expanding.”