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Wärtsilä and Deltamarin, a leading design company in the cruise and ferry market, have announced the introduction of a new series of ferry designs that are expected to lead to fuel savings of 15 percent. The designs are being presented during the 35th Interferry Conference in New York, 3-6 October, 2010.

The two companies say they have identified the need for a rational approach to ferry design, and to the entire newbuilding process.

Commenting on the ferry design issue, Wärtsilä said "Most ferries have a unique design, which is produced according to the special characteristics of each route, highly diverse passenger and freight requirements, and the owner's own business model. This diversity results in very high prototype costs for each vessel, to the extent that ferries may be hard to trade and finance. However, standardisation has seldom been the answer, and has usually led to sub-optimal ships with low profitability.

"From an environmental point of view, in the future ferries will have to operate using less fuel and creating lower emission levels. This can be achieved by benefiting from state-of-the-art design improvements, through optimizing machinery and systems, and by implementing the latest innovations in propulsion technology. These innovations are costly and must be standardized wherever possible."

According to Wärtsilä and Deltamarin, a breakthrough was achieved via the development of the so-called Parametric Design Method. Using this method, designers can make a clear distinction between the marketable and non-marketable features of a vessel. For example, the size and architecture of the passenger accommodation and recreation areas are marketable features of a ship, and can be tailored to each customer's particular needs.

On the other hand, the construction of the ship - the engine room layout, piping and ventilation, power, navigation and automation systems can all be designed using a more industrial method. By modularizing and parameterising these elements within the ship, Wärtsilä and Deltamarin say the same benefits can be utilized in subsequent ships without them becoming duplicates.

The savings resulting from use of the parametric approach are expected to be considerable, both in the initial investment as well as in operational costs. The industrial engineering of ship systems, and the serial effect created from pre-designed modules, are estimated to result in cost savings of approximately 15 percent. The fuel economy of these ferries, compared with ferries built 10-15 years ago, are also expected to improve by 15 percent, not least as a result of developments in Wärtsilä's technology and Deltamarin's advances in ship design.

Wärtsilä and Deltamarin expect to be able to generate customized ferry concept designs quickly and reliably, which also meet the owner's requirements and budget.

"This will shorten time-to-market considerations notably. The subsequent Basic Design can be generated rapidly, thanks to the combination of parametrically pre-designed elements and pre-engineered ship machinery and systems," Wärtsilä said.

Environmentally sustainable strategy

Evolving emission regulations are also set to require the re-design of many vessel types, including ferries operating in future ECAs (Emission Control Areas).

An important aim of the joint project is to introduce advanced, environmentally sound solutions, applied in a modular way and that are prepared for any future requirements.

Deltamarin and Wärtsilä are continuing to develop solutions as part of their sustainability strategy. Examples of this joint commitment include Deltamarin's highly efficient ferry designs and Wärtsilä's propulsion arrangements, exhaust gas cleaning systems, and in particular, its base of installed LNG dual fuel marine engines.

"The economic viability of advanced technical solutions can only come about through an integrated approach. By combining our companies' complementary expertise in ship design and integrated technologies, we believe that such viable solutions can be attained", said Wilco van der Linden, Director Business Development, Cruise & Ferry, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

"Deltamarin will provide their vast design expertise in ferries, and in particular the development of advanced, high-performance hull forms for new designs. These complementary capabilities will provide a valuable service to the international ferry industry", said Markku Kanerva, Deltamarin's Sales Director for Contracting Services.