New generation of bulk carriers developed by Project Forward. Credit: Wärtsilä.

Wärtsilä subsidiary Eniram has entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Greece-based Arista Shipping to take part in Project Forward, an initiative led by Arista to develop next-generation bulk carriers.

Eniram will help develop monitoring and optimisation tools under the MoU.

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Project Forward has already developed a dry bulk carrier vessel design that offers an improved level of energy efficiency.

The carrier will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and complies with the current and upcoming regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), including the Energy Efficiency Design Index 2025, sulphur oxides (SOx) post-2020, and nitrogen dioxide (NOx) Tier III standards.

Wärtsilä is also a part of Project Forward and will provide an LNG propulsion solution to the bulk carrier, which will be powered by an arrangement comprising two Wärtsilä 31DF dual-fuel engines without additional gensets.

“Project Forward represents a milestone for the shipping industry, since it brings a substantial discontinuity to traditional ship design and performance.”

Arista Shipping technical manager Antonis Trakakis said: “Project Forward represents a milestone for the shipping industry, since it brings a substantial discontinuity to traditional ship design and performance.

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“The project establishes LNG as a global marine fuel, and we welcome Eniram’s involvement. They have proven expertise in energy management technology and this know-how will be of great importance.

“The aim of the project is to arrive at a fully elaborated decision support tool, which will be extremely valuable in enabling us to predict, monitor, optimise, and also demonstrate the actual performance of the vessels.”

Arista Shipping previously signed a letter of intent with Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (YZJ) to build up to 20 bulk carriers with the new design.

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