The technology group Wärtsilä has supplied specialised propulsion solutions for three Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels (OFSVs) built for the Canadian Coast Guard at Seaspan Shipyards in Vancouver, Canada, the company said in its release. Low-noise propulsion is very important for the vessels’ primary mission, which is to carry out fisheries research. As such, Wärtsilä designed the propellers to deliver a high-cavitation inception speed to comply with these low underwater radiated noise requirements. Delivery of the third of these new OFSV class vessels took place on October 8 this year.
Wärtsilä’s depth of experience in designing and producing low-noise, highly efficient propeller solutions, as well as its leading market position in technologies for research vessels, were key factors in the award of the contract.
The Wärtsilä scope of supply for each of the three vessels includes the propulsion solution, comprising the custom-designed fixed pitch propeller, the shaft line assembly, plus seals and bearings, and the transverse thruster with e-motor and variable speed drive.
Wärtsilä equipment is installed in approximately 85 percent of all Canadian Coast Guard vessels. This includes the major propulsion and engine-related solutions in some 50 percent of the fleet.
Wärtsilä in brief:
Wärtsilä is a global leader in smart technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising sustainable innovation, total efficiency and data analytics, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2019, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 5.2 billion with approximately 19,000 employees. The company has operations in over 200 locations in more than 80 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.