Wartsila to power Arctic icebreaker duo

Because of these challenging operational considerations, the reliability and overall efficiency of the Wärtsilä machinery were prime considerations in the award of this contract. The ability of the Wärtsilä engines to operate efficiently with such low air suction temperatures provides the basis for an arctic package solution.

The full Wärtsilä scope of supply for each vessel includes two 16-cylinder and two 8-cylinder Wärtsilä 32 engines and one 6-cylinder Wärtsilä 20 engine. Deliveries to the shipyard will commence in summer 2016.

"Once again Wärtsilä has been chosen based on the company's experience and strong track record in supplying highly efficient and reliable solutions for icebreakers. These vessels operate in the toughest possible conditions and it is, therefore, important that the power generators selected are the best available," says Johan Hanstén, Area Sales Director, Wärtsilä.

"Wärtsilä is well known and respected in the Russian shipping industry and we are very pleased to cooperate with them in this important project. We see enormous potential in this partnership with Wärtsilä, a company with great experience that provides proven, reliable, and technologically advanced products and systems," says Sviridov Maxim, Director, Marine Electric Mechanical Dept, Ruselprom Group.

"We have worked with Wärtsilä on various projects for many years, and we are very confident that they can provide the engineering support and quality products needed for these icebreakers," says Alexander Solovyev, General Director, PJSC Vyborg Shipyard.

"The novel Aker ARC 130 A concept design represents the latest developments in icebreaking technology, which Aker Arctic has now adapted also for Arctic vessels. The Wärtsilä gensets, together with the arctic package, provide remarkable energy savings in extreme operating conditions," says Mika Hovilainen, Project Manager, Aker Arctic Technology Inc.