Siem LNG fueled PSV has Wärtsilä design and equipment

NOVEMBER 28, 2012 — Wärtsilä is to supply ship design services and the power and propulsion system for a newbuild LNG powered 5,500 dwt platform supply vessel (PSV) ordered by Norway’s Siem Offshore to operate on a charter to Total E&P Norge AS (see earlier story).

The vessel is on order at shipbuilder Hellesøy Verft, and will be the eighth vessel built at the shipyard to be based on the Wärtsilä Ship Design VS 485 series.

The vessel is of Wärtsilä VS4411 LNG PSV design and features Wärtsilä power and propulsion, electrical and automation systems, including a complete four-split Wärtsilä Low Loss Concept (LLC) solution. Wärtsilä says that this highly redundant electric power distribution system enables energy-efficiency increases of 2 to 4 percent, reduced electrical losses leading to greater fuel economy, while providing additional reliability for continuous operation. It also improves lifecycle performance and the fully-integrated design significantly reduces integration risks.

The PSV will also be equipped with the Wärtsilä LNGPac LNG storage and handling system.

The PSV is scheduled to be operational from 2014 and will serve the Martin Linge oilfield, North-West of Stavanger, Norway. It has been designed to specifically meet Total’s North Sea operational requirements.

“The LNG PSV for Siem Offshore is the ninth to be designed by Wärtsilä Ship Design and further strengthens our position as the global leader in supplying integrated solutions for LNG PSVs. The order is testimony to our reputation for reliable, efficient and competitive solutions,” says Riku-Pekka Hägg, Vice President, Wärtsilä Ship Design.

Close to half of Siem’s fleet consists of vessels with Wärtsilä ship design and equipment. Ten of the company’s anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels have been designed by Wärtsilä and are equipped with complete hybrid diesel electric propulsion systems from Wärtsilä. This will be the first of Siem’s vessels to be powered by LNG. Wärtsilä’s acquisition of Hamworthy and the subsequent integration of Hamworthy’s portfolio has expanded Wärtsilä’s offering with enhanced gas bunkering, storage and feedsystem, thereby strengthening its technology leadership in LNG powered vessels.

This order takes the number of LNG powered PSVs to 17. Wärtsilä has designed eight of these and has supplied dual-fuel machinery to 15 of the 17 vessels. Last year, Wärtsilä expanded its offering to include LNG storage and gas handling systems. The Siem vessel will be the fifth LNG powered PSV vessel to use Wärtsilä’s gas handling system.

Siem Offshore – VS 4411 LNG PSV

Length over all … 89.20 m

Breadth molded … 19.00 m

Depth to 1st Deck … 9.00 m

Accommodations … 25