Regional LNG: W?rtsil? to equip first U.S. flagged LNG Offshore vessel

W?rtsil?, a Finnish manufacturer of power sources for the marine industry, has been awarded a contract to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion equipment for two advanced offshore supply vessels owned by Harvey Gulf International Marine.

These supply vessels will be the first ever U.S. flagged platform supply vessels (PSV) to be powered by clean, safe and efficient LNG. The contract includes options for supplying propulsion equipment for additional follow-on vessels.

W?rtsil? will deliver an integrated system that includes the dual-fuel machinery, electrical and automation package, complete propulsion, and also the LNG fuel storage and handling components. The STX Marine Inc SV310DF Offshore Support Vessels will be powered by W?rtsil? 6-cylinder 34DF dual-fuel engines.

The LNG storage capacity of 290 cubic meters (m3), enables more than a week of vessel operational time. In addition, the vessels will carry 5520 tons of deadweight at load line and have a transit speed of 13 knots.

The vessels are scheduled for delivery in two years and will operate in the Gulf of Mexico.

Shane Guidry, Harvey Gulf International Marine?s Chairman and CEO, states that the stringent governmental demands for reduced emissions, together with predictions that availability of ultra low sulphur diesel fuel will be restricted, caused the company to consider the use of gas as fuel.

?We?re committed to bringing the world?s best technologies to our customers, and these vessels with W?rtsil??s integrated system based on the use of LNG further demonstrates Harvey Gulf?s Going Green Vision,? he said. (*)