Wärtsilä has entered a new deal with China State Shipbuilding (CSSC) to establish new joint venture (JV) dedicated to the electrical and automation sector.

The proposed JV will be named CSSC Wärtsilä Electrical & Automation (CWE&A) and will focus on the growing Chinese electrical and automation (E&A) market, with special interest in the high-tech ship applications.

CWE&A is scheduled to be fully operational by mid this year, and is also set to provide Wärtsilä electrical and automation systems and equipment for newbuild vessels, as well as high-tech and high-added value ships.

Wärtsilä CEO Jaakko Eskola said: “The CWE&A joint venture enables both Wärtsilä and CSSC to serve our customers better here in the world’s largest shipbuilding market.

“Vessels are becoming more complex with E&A solutions being increasingly important, and as digitalisation enters the marine industry CWE&A will be well positioned to meet the needs of its customers in this field.”

"As digitalisation enters the marine industry, CWE&A will be well positioned to meet the needs of its customers in this field."

The JV will be owned by CSSC’s Electronics Technology division, with Wärtsilä planned to be involved in various areas of the business such as project engineering, project management, commissioning and supply management of automation.

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It will also deal with a number of different systems on board the vessels, such navigation and communication, dynamic positioning, electric propulsion, power distribution and entertainment. 

Architectural lighting, safety and security systems, and full systems integration will also be handled by Wärtsilä.

Wärtsilä and CSSC previously opened new engine production facilities at Lingang, Shanghai, China in January, as part of another JV between the two firms known as CSSC Wärtsilä Engine (CWEC).


Image: Deal signing between CSSC and Wärtsilä. Photo: courtesy of Wärtsilä.

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