Drydocks World contracts Wärtsilä to design and supply the propulsion and other equipment for a new harbour tug
Drydocks World (DDW) based in Dubai, UAE, has contracted Wärtsilä to design and supply the propulsion and other equipment for a new harbour tug that will operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG), the company said in its press release. This will be the first harbour tug in the Middle East region to operate on gas. The order was signed in November.
The 29 metre long tug is the first of a series of nine such vessels to be built and operated by DDW. The project is part of a 'green' initiative launched by the Dubai government, and is intended to set an example for promoting environmental sustainability throughout the region.
Wärtsilä is to provide a full scope of solutions for this Eco tug, emphasising both the company's leading position in enabling the use of LNG as a marine fuel, and its unique capability to provide a full range of solutions from initial design to lifecycle support. In all, Wärtsilä will supply the ship design, two 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF dual-fuel engines, Wärtsilä Steerable Thrusters (WST), type WST-18 Compact thrusters, the automation equipment, and the Wärtsilä LNGPac system.
The Wärtsilä LNGPac is a complete fuel gas handling system for LNG fuelled ships. It includes the bunkering station, the LNG tank and related process equipment, as well as the control and monitoring system. With the Wärtsilä WST-18 thrusters, this tug will be equipped with one of the most advanced products in the marine industry. These units, which are part of the new Wärtsilä Steerable Thruster (WST) Compact series, provide optimal efficiency, high hydrodynamic performance and easier maintenance. By achieving outstanding efficiency at different power outputs, the WST Compact series reduces fuel consumption, thereby further lowering the vessel's environmental footprint.