Deltamarin, Arista Shipping, ABS and GTT announced last year a joint development project to equip the dry bulk carriers of the future with LNG propulsion called Project ‘Forward’. Wärtsilä stated this week that it will team up with this project by supplying Wärtsilä 31DF dual-fuel engine to form the basis of the concept’s propulsion system.
Project Forward is led by Athens-based Arista Shipping. It began officially in May 2015 with the aim of developing a commercially feasible LNG powered dry bulk carrier design capable of complying with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Energy Efficiency Design Index 2025 standards, as well as with all relevant emission reduction regulations. In addition to Arista Shipping, the other parties involved in the project are Finnish ship designer Deltamarin, the Houston based classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and GTT, the French LNG membrane containment system designer.
Mr Antonis Trakakis Technical Manager, Arista Shipping gave a presentation referring to this project at the 2016 GREEN4SEA Conference & Awards. He said that Project Forward ‘s objective is the application of LNG on bulk carrier vessels, for the purpose of meeting all current and forthcoming environmental regulations. The analysis carried out yielded as outcome of the project an application with LNG membrane tanks fitted in the hull and 4 stroke engines. He also said that CAPEX-OPEX analysis seen through different price scenaria of LNG and 0.5 % sulfur fuel give very positive results with very short payback periods
The Wärtsilä 31DF dual-fuel engine is likely to form the basis of the concept’s propulsion system. Introduced in June 2015, the Wärtsilä 31 has been recognised by Guinness World Records as being the world’s most efficient 4-stroke diesel engine. The DF version allows the use of either LNG or conventional marine fuel oils. While 2-stroke engines are the conventional choice for vessels of this type, the supreme efficiency of the Wärtsilä 31 engine makes it a competitive and viable alternative option.
“Wärtsilä has been selected to participate in this important project because of our depth of experience in LNG propulsion solutions, our strong position in 4-stroke engine technology, and in particular because of the state-of-the-art Wärtsilä 31 engine. This engine has not only taken efficiency to a new benchmark level, but in gas-mode is IMO Tier III compliant without the need for any exhaust cleaning systems. We are proud to be a part of this future-looking project, which could eventually be applied equally well to other types and sizes of merchant vessel,” says Aaron Bresnahan, Vice President, Sales, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.
“Project Forward aims to become a milestone for the shipping industry and in particular for owners and operators of cargo ships. Owners must decide within the next 5-10 years whether gas as fuel is a practical means of compliance with lower emissions standards and this project will enable all of us to understand its feasibility. We welcome Wärtsilä’s involvement, as it is a company with great experience in this field,” says Arista Shipping Principal, Alexander P. Panagopulos.
The project is to be presented as a topic at the Posidonia 2016 conference and exhibition, to be held in Athens, Greece from June 6 to 10.
