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Wärtsilä has been awarded the contract to supply the design and an integrated solution for a new large platform supply vessel (PSV). The ship will operate primarily on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and is owned by Siem Offshore, the Norway based provider of marine services to the oil and gas industry. It will be operated under charter by A/S Norske Shell. The PSV is being built at the Remontowa Shipbuilding's yard in Poland.

The contract's scope of supply includes the Wärtsilä VS 4411 LNG PSV initial, basic, and detailed ship design, as well as the complete diesel electric system with Wärtsilä dual-fuel generating sets, the Wärtsilä LNGPac gas storage and handling system, and the complete electrical and automation system, including a four-split Wärtsilä LLC (Low Loss Concept) solution.

The Wärtsilä LLC is designed to help the vessel fulfil the highest possible Environmental Regularity Number (ERN) of 99.99.99.99., which represents the vessel's capability for maintaining its position and normal operations under certain weather conditions.

The 89.2 metre long vessel is scheduled to commence operations in 2015 and will be used to support offshore drilling and production activities in the North Sea. It can accommodate a crew of 25.

This latest order emphasises Wärtsilä's front runner status in the LNG PSV design market. During the past year, for example, three major oil companies have chosen Wärtsilä's LNG PSV design and integrated solution for their North Sea tenders. This line of success dates back ten years, when the first two LNG PSVs designed by Wärtsilä for operations in the North Sea were chartered by Norwegian oil company Statoil.

This order follows a similar one placed in November 2012 with the same scope of supply for another Siem Offshore-owned PSV. Almost half of the vessels in Siem Offshore's fleet already feature Wärtsilä ship designs and Wärtsilä equipment.

"Wärtsilä is the marine sector's leading total solutions provider and this capability has enabled us to develop comprehensive integrated solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce operating costs, and promote environmentally sustainable shipping. Furthermore, by facilitating the use of LNG as a clean and economically competitive marine fuel, we have created a paradigm shift that benefits our customers and the industry as a whole. Our success in supplying major oil companies with LNG fuelled PSVs is testament to this," said Magnus Miemois, Vice President, Wärtsilä Solutions.