Japanese ferry operator signs up for Wärtsilä lifecycle agreements

Written by Marine Log Staff
One of the ferries covered by lifecycle agreements

Lifecycle agreements signed with Japanese operator Shin Nihonkai Ferry Co., Ltd (SNF) are designed to provide optimal operational support in ensuring reliable and efficient performance for the ferries, which serve the busy Yokosuka and Shinmoji route. [Image: © Shin Nihonkai Ferry Co., Ltd]

Wärtsilä reports that it has signed two lifecycle agreements covering two ferries owned by Japanese operator Shin Nihonkai Ferry Co., Ltd (SNF). The vessels are each powered by four Wärtsilä 31 engines. The agreements are designed to provide optimal operational support in ensuring reliable and efficient performance for the ferries, which serve the busy Yokosuka and Shinmoji route.

As ferries have an important role to play in meeting the growing demand for environmentally sustainable transport options, ferry operators are under pressure to reduce costs, fuel consumption and emissions, all while keeping to vessel schedule without delay for the passengers, notes Wärtsilä, adding that ferry operators are increasingly looking towards services and solutions which enable operations to run smoothly and efficiently.

“It is very important that we operate according to the schedules and without delays, so being sure that the ships are in prime operating condition is essential,” says Hisao Shimizu, general manager, marine management, at Shin Nihonkai Ferry Co., Ltd. “The two Wärtsilä life cycle agreements will give us this assurance and allow us to confidently concentrate on serving our customers in an optimal and most efficient way

The two five-year lifecycle agreements cover the Hamayu and Soleil ferries and provide remote 24/7 support in case of need. The specialists at Wärtsilä Expertise Centers are available to support the crew remotely whenever needed, giving guidance, advice, and recommendations. A cyber secure connectivity makes it possible to collaborate remotely in real-time. Getting the issues resolved quickly maximizes the vessel uptime ensuring smooth operations.

The scope of the agreements also includes asset diagnostics and anomaly detection via Wärtsilä’s Expert Insight predictive maintenance service. Expert Insight proactively identifies and highlights potential failures and early indications of equipment deterioration that cause vessels to run less efficiently.

“If a vessel is well maintained, it not only allows it to operate reliably, therefore minimising delays and cancellations for passengers, it also saves fuel and generates less emissions,” says Henrik Wilhelms, director, agreement sales, at Wärtsilä Marine. “After all, key maintenance practices have a surprisingly big impact on the vessel’s efficiency and with data we can optimise and improve these even further. We are delighted to expand our long-standing partnership with SNF by supporting them with our lifecycle agreement for these two ferries and to help them improve the ships efficiency and reliability.”

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