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Finnish firm Wärtsilä has today confirmed the launch of a new series of LNG carrier ship designs.

Commenting on the news in a statement, Wärtsilä said the designs were "an important part of the company's strategic programme under the theme 'Taking Merchant Shipping into the Gas Age'".

The series comprises four vessel designs, the WSD59 3K, WSD59 6.5K, WSD55 12K, and WSD50 20K, all of which are said to have been developed in close cooperation with customers to produce vessels that are appropriate for the global LNG infrastructure and applicable for both ocean-going and inland water operations.

In each design, Wärtsilä said that fuel economy, performance guarantees, optional versions to meet specific needs, and the flexibility to choose particular features and solutions have been emphasized.

"Wärtsilä Ship Design has an extensive reference list dating back to 2003 for vessel designs for LNG fuelled ships. The experience and know-how that has been built up during these 15 years has been utilised to develop this latest series of world class designs for LNG Carriers. The entire concept of these designs is to enable the lowest possible fuel consumption, to allow owners to select the ship design that exactly meets their needs, and to provide shipyards with the most convenient and cost effective packages possible," remarked Riku-Pekka Hägg, Vice President, Ship Design, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

More than 4,000 vessels have thus far been built based on Wärtsilä designs, including some of the world's most advanced LNG-powered ships. According to Hägg: "Our ship designs consistently raise the bar for merchant shipping in terms of efficiency and environmental sustainability."

Fuel consumption statistics

Data according to Wärtsilä:

The WSD59 3K design offers fuel consumption of 7.5 tonnes per day at a service speed of 14 knots. The design draft is 4.75 metres.

The fuel consumption for the WSD55 12K design vessels is 13.5 tonnes per day at a service speed of 14.5 knots, making it the best in its class. The design draft is 6.2 metres.

The fuel consumption for vessels based on the WSD50 20K design is also the best in its class at 18.1 tonnes per day at a service speed of 15 knots.

The WSD59 6.5K design offers a fuel consumption of 11.0 tonnes per day at a speed of 13 knots. The design draft is 5.8 metres.

The new designs have been developed at the Wärtsilä Ship Design offices in China and Poland. They are to feature at this week's CMA Shipping conference and exhibition being held from March 23-25 in Stamford, Connecticut.