MARINE NEWS PRODUCTS, TECHNOLOGIES AND ACTIVITIES
PROPULSION BY MIKE MERCER
MAN Diesels for Aker
Yards Ro-Pax Ferries
MAN Diesel announced a contract to supply complete
propulsion packages based on its latest medium-speed
48/60 CR for what is reported to be the world’s largest Ro-Pax ferries. The engines will be rated 1200 k W per cylinder
at 500 r/min mounted in a four-engine, twin-propulsion
train diesel/mechanical system. In a “father and son” engine
arrangement, each train consists of one inline, eight-cylin-der, 8L48/60 CR and one six-cylinder, 6L48/60 CR connected by a twin input shaft, single output shaft type
NDSHL-3400 double reduction gear from Renk AG. The
gears also feature shaft alternators driven from 3000 k W
PTOs. Completing the propulsion packages are twin 5. 2 m
type VBS1560 controllable pitch propellers, 41 m shaft
lines and ODF servo systems, together with the Alphatronic
2000 propulsion control and management system. The
overall machinery package of each vessel is completed by
four generator sets based on one 7L21/31 and three
6L21/31 MAN Diesel engines.
The two new ferries are to be built by the Aker Yards
Group for the Stena Line. At 62 000 GT and 240 m overall, the newbuildings feature 5500 m of trailer lanes, 700 m
of car lanes and facilities for 1200 passengers. They are due
to be delivered from Aker Yards’ facilities in Germany during first and third quarters of 2010. A
Vietnamese Orders for Wärtsilä
Wärtsilä Corp. reports contiuned order volume increases
in Vietnam for ship propulsion systems with the
announcemnt of its latest contract awarded by Vietnam
Shipbuilding Industry Corp. (Vinashin) for propulsion systems to be installed in five chemical tankers to be built for
Iason Hellenic Shipping Co. Ltd., Greece, at the Pha Rung
shipyard in Haiphong. Each vessel will be equipped by
Wärtsilä with a five-bladed fixed-pitch propeller of 4. 3 m
diameter, shafting, stern-tube including seals and bearings
and an intermediate shaft bearing. The equipment will be
delivered during 2008-2010.
In addition, Wärtsilä will supply Vinashin five-bladed
Wärtsilä fixed-pitch propellers of 6. 45 m diameter, together
with shafting, stern-tube seals, shaft bearings and two Wärtsilä
transverse thrusters with capacities of 1000 k W each for eight
car carriers to be built for Ray Car Carriers Ltd., Israel. The
ships will be delivered from September 2008 onward.
Wärtsilä’s first order for fixed-pitch propellers from
Vietnam, awarded late last year, was for 5. 6 m units to be fitted to a series of five Diamond 34K bulk carriers under construction at Vinashin’s Pha Rung shipyard for the U.K.-based
shipowner Graig Group. The propellers will be delivered complete with shafting and Wärtsilä’s JMT Sternguard-type seals.
Graig Group will receive the first vessel in November 2007.
Wärtsilä is also delivering low-speed main engines to
Vinashin for installation in ships contracted at its shipyards.
During 2006, orders were received for six-cylinder Wärtsilä
