Wärtsilä has secured an order to supply an integrated hybrid propulsion system for a bulk carrier being built for Norwegian shipowner Aasen Shipping at the Royal Bodewes shipyard in the Netherlands.

The order, booked in Q3 2025, marks the sixth vessel in a series to feature a similar scope of Wärtsilä equipment, according to the technology group's announcement on November 20.

The 9,500 DWT bulk carrier will be equipped with one six-cylinder Wärtsilä 25 main engine fitted with a Wärtsilä NOx Reducer, a gearbox and controllable pitch propeller with shaft line, and a ProTouch remote propulsion control system. The hybrid system includes a DC hub and 620 kWh battery capacity, as well as control, battery, power, and energy management systems.

Torbjørn Torkelsen, CEO of Aasen Shipping, said: "The support from Wärtsilä and the performance efficiency of their equipment with the earlier ships in this series have strongly contributed to our dedication to operating efficient and cleaner cargo transport. In addition, Wärtsilä's 25 main engine is designed to be future-proof, meaning we can switch to sustainable fuels as they become available, further supporting our ambitions for long-term environmental sustainability."

The Wärtsilä 25 engine is a medium-speed 4-stroke marine engine designed for upgrades to operate on future low or zero carbon fuels. It is available in 6L to 9L configurations with a power output of 1.7–3.4 MW and can serve as either a main or auxiliary engine.

Wärtsilä noted that Aasen Shipping is focused on utilizing technologies to cut emissions, reduce fuel costs, and keep carbon costs to a minimum in response to decarbonization targets.

Roger Holm, President of Wärtsilä Marine and Executive Vice President at Wärtsilä Corporation, commented: "The need to decarbonize shipping is driving the industry towards increasingly flexible, electrified, and hybridized solutions, with sustainable fuel readiness also being built into newbuild solutions today. Our hybrid propulsion systems are designed to allow vessels to run efficiently across various operating modes, adapting seamlessly to changing conditions. This flexibility contributes to improved fuel efficiency and enhances overall performance."

The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for delivery to the yard during the first half of 2027.

Aasen Shipping, based in Mosterhamn, Norway, operates a fleet of self-discharging bulk carriers. The company previously took delivery of two battery-hybrid vessels from Royal Bodewes — the Aasfjell and Aasfoss — in 2021 and 2022, and ordered three additional hybrid-powered methanol-ready vessels in 2023 for delivery between December 2025 and September 2026.