Wärtsilä Gas Solutions has secured a repeat order from Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) to provide cargo handling and fuel gas supply systems for five Very Large Ethane Gas Carriers (VLECs), the Finnish technology group announced.

The vessels are being constructed at SHI's Korean shipyard for Japanese ship owner Mitsui O.S.K Lines and will transport ethane from the United States to Thailand. Wärtsilä booked the order in the second quarter of 2025.

The contract builds on established relationships between Wärtsilä and both the Korean shipyard and the Japanese shipping company. The technology group's cargo handling and fuel gas supply systems have been selected for numerous vessels built at the SHI yard previously.

Wärtsilä's scope of supply encompasses engineering for the cargo handling and fuel gas supply system process plant and various sub-systems. The package includes all required equipment, instrumentation, interface materials between cargo tanks and hull, and the cargo control system.

Personnel from Wärtsilä Gas Solutions will assist the yard during construction and commissioning of the vessels.

"Repeat orders are the clearest endorsement of the importance and reliability of our systems that lead us towards a sustainable future. We look forward to working closely with all stakeholders to make this another successful project," said Kjell Ove Ulstein, Sales & Marketing Director at Wärtsilä Gas Solutions.

Equipment delivery is scheduled to commence in early 2027.

The order reinforces Wärtsilä's position in the gas carrier market, where the company provides systems for gas storage, fuel management, transfer operations, and boil-off gas management across maritime applications.

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions operates as part of Wärtsilä Portfolio Business, focusing on gas value chain solutions including maritime gas handling, gas-to-power systems, liquefaction, and biogas applications.