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Wärtsilä, the marine industry's leading provider of innovative products, solutions and services, has been awarded the contract to supply the extended engineering scope for the initial, basic, and production designs for a series of two Container RoRo vessels to be built for US-based owner, Crowley Maritime Corporation. The vessels will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), and are to be built at the VT Halter Marine's shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The contract was signed in the third quarter of 2013.

Wärtsilä Ship Design's WSD CRV 2400 WB enables the capability to carry conventional 20 ft, and 40 ft containers, as well as the special 45 ft and 53 ft wide body high cube container developed for the American market. The RoRo capacity is in excess of 350 private cars. When built, these will be among the very first LNG-powered, American flagged, container RoRo ships. They will operate between Jacksonville, Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico on a weekly rotational basis.

Because of the recently established Emission Control Area (ECA) along the eastern seaboard of the United States, the vessel design had to meet stringent environmental guidelines while serving the high performance operational requirements of the owners. Low emissions, reliability, and appropriate transit speed were, therefore, primary considerations.

"This vessel design raises the bar for merchant shipping, not only for US flagged ships, but globally. We are proud to be taking this bold step in bringing environmentally viable designs to the market, with Wärtsilä as a key partner," said Rick Zubic, Vice President, Business Development, VT Halter Marine.

"Wärtsilä Ship Design has extensive experience in designing innovative and efficient vessels. This experience, combined with Wärtsilä's vast know-how and leading global position in LNG propulsion solutions for the marine industry, has given us a strong competitive edge. This is reflected by this latest order. We have enjoyed a long co-operation with both Crowley Maritime Corporation and VT Halter Marine," said Riku-Pekka Hägg, Vice President, Wärtsilä Ship Design.