Wärtsilä to Power Up World’s First CNG Carrier

The world’s first carrier vessel for compressed natural gas (CNG) is to be powered by an integrated Wärtsilä propulsion system, chosen for its energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, Wärtsilä said.

The vessel is being built at the Jiangsu Hantong shipyard in China ordered by CIMC ENRIC and designed by CIMC ORIC for Indonesian state owned energy company  Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN). The order with Wärtsilä was placed during the fourth quarter of 2014.

The new vessel will feature a 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel main engine operating primarily on gas. Wärtsilä said it would also supply the controlled pitch propeller and gearbox, all of which will be fully integrated so as to optimise the propulsion efficiency.

This will be the first dual-fuel powered vessel owned by an Indonesian ship owner as the Indonesian government starts to promote the utilisation of natural gas as a marine fuel.

“We expect that this CNG carrier will be a model for other Indonesian owners as the government’s policy is to promote energy efficient and cleaner sea transportation through the use of gas fuelled engines. Wärtsilä has always been at the forefront of making it possible for gas to be utilised as a marine fuel, and has tremendous experience and expertise in this area,” says Mr Suryadi Mardjoeki, head of oil-based fuels and gas division, PLN.

The 110 metre long carrier is scheduled to be in operation in May 2016 and will transport CNG from Gresik in East Java to the Indonesian island of Lombok where the gas will be used to fuel a power plant.