Eniram Inks MoU to Participate in Project Forward Initiative

Eniram, part of Finnish technology group Wärtsilä, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Athens-based Arista Shipping to participate in the Project Forward initiative.

Led by Arista, the project has developed a dry bulk carrier vessel that features “an unprecedented high level of energy efficiency.” The carrier’s design is based on LNG fueled propulsion.

Under the MoU, Eniram will assist in the development of monitoring and optimization tools.

“We are delighted to be a part of this exciting project, which will create a vessel with the levels of performance and sustainability needed as the marine industry enters a new era. Our input will help ensure that operational visibility will be maximised, and that the new ships can operate at optimal efficiency,” Giannis Moraitakis, E&A Business & Sales Development Manager at Wärtsilä Marine Solutions, said.

As informed, the vessel design will enable compliance with all known, applicable, and anticipated regulations proposed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). These include the Energy Efficiency Design Index 2025, SOx post 2020, and NOx Tier III without any after treatment.

“Project Forward represents a milestone for the shipping industry, since it brings a substantial discontinuity to traditional ship design and performance. The project establishes LNG as a global marine fuel, and we welcome Eniram’s involvement (…) The aim of the project is to arrive at a fully elaborated decision support tool, which will be extremely valuable in enabling us to predict, monitor, optimise, and also demonstrate the actual performance of the vessels,” Antonis Trakakis, Technical Manager at Arista Shipping, explained.

Wärtsilä is also a part of the project team, contributing with LNG propulsion technology. The propulsion design concept is to be based on an arrangement featuring just two highly efficient Wärtsilä 31DF dual-fuel engines without additional gensets. Other parties involved include Finnish ship designer Deltamarin, the Houston-based classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), and GTT, the French LNG membrane containment system designer.

Earlier this year, Arista Shipping signed a letter of intent with Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (YZJ) to build a series of up to twenty bulk carriers to the new design. The Kamsarmax vessels are scheduled for delivery between 2020 and 2023.