Technology company Wärtsilä has concluded the supply of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) Fuel Supply System (LFSS) to 15 Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) vessels that are owned and operated by BW LPG, a company listed in Oslo, Norway.
Claimed to have the world’s largest fleet of VLGC vessels, BW LPG is involved in the shipping of LPG.
In 2018, Wärtsilä received a contract to supply the first four of the 15 systems. This agreement followed the company’s trial of a full-sized two-stroke marine engine powered by LPG fuel.
After it was satisfied with the performance of the systems, BW LPG ordered another 11 systems in 2020.
Designed to support the use of LPG as an environmentally sustainable marine fuel, the Wärtsilä LFSS is said to achieve International Maritime Organization (IMO) emission limits without requiring exhaust scrubber systems.
The system comes on a stand-alone basis and is also available as an ‘integrated element within the LPG cargo handling system’.
LPG has the potential to cut down greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 24%, sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions by 97%, particulate matter emissions by 90% and nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions by around 20%, in comparison with heavy fuel oil (HFO).
Wärtsilä Gas Solutions vice-president Walter Reggente said: “It has been a pleasure cooperating with BW LPG in the introduction of the LFSS to 15 of their vessels.
“We fully support their ambitions towards enhancing the sustainability of their operations, and are proud to bring the widespread use of LPG fuel closer to reality, thanks to the Wärtsilä LFSS.”
Wärtsilä had taken system integrator responsibilities in the retrofitting of all the vessels. The company carried out ship design modifications in addition to the LFSS deployment.
Earlier this month, Wärtsilä won a contract from Eastaway Ship Management for the supply of power limitation solutions for six vessels.
