Wärtsilä has been awarded an order to install an integrated propulsion system on an 8,200-dwt multi-purpose cargo vessel built at Huanghai Shipyard in China for Mauritius Shipping Corporation (MSCL)
The company’s propulsion package includes the Wärtsilä 32 main engine, reduction gear, a controlled-pitch propeller, ProTouch remote control system, a transverse thruster, and three Wärtsilä 20 auxiliary engines.
Wärtsilä Marine regional sales director Glenn Mattas said “The customer has made clear the emphasis must be on optimal efficiency, integration, support, and reliability, all of which are areas where Wärtsilä excels. We have worked closely with MSCL to ensure our solutions are tailored to their precise requirements.”
MSCL cited reliability of Wärtsilä’s services as a key factor in choosing the vessel’s propulsion system. The company’s chief executive Rishi Ronoowah said “We have operated with Wärtsilä main engines since 2001 and have experienced no major breakdowns or disruption to our normal and essential operations during all these years. We are, therefore, very satisfied and in our experience the engines have been extremely reliable, allowing us to enhance our business performance.”
The vessel will provide essential transportation of goods and passengers between the Republic of Mauritius and the islands of Reunion, Agalega, and Rodrigues. Any disruption in the service and supplies to these islands can have serious consequences as they depend solely on MSCL for them. The new ship will replace an existing vessel sailing this route.
The order with Wärtsilä was placed in April 2020. The equipment is scheduled for delivery to the yard in early 2021, and the ship is expected to commence commercial operations in 2022.
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