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Wärtsilä has announced that its engine technology has been selected for the first ever European commercial shipping operation to be permanently powered by liquid biofuel.

The Finnish firm has been contracted by the STX Finland shipyard in Turku, Finland, to supply the main engines for a new multi-purpose cargo vessel. The ship is being built for Meriaura Ltd., a Finland-based provider of sea transport services for industrial products and general cargo.

The vessel will be powered by three Wärtsilä 6L20 main generating sets, capable of operating on various types of liquid biofuels fulfilling Wärtsilä's liquid biofuel specification. Liquid bio-fuels can be produced from various raw materials of vegetable and non-vegetable origin. The generating sets are also capable of using marine diesel oil as a backup fuel.

The onboard fuel system is prepared for regular operation with liquid bio-fuels, and the sea acceptance trials for the owner are to be conducted using liquid biofuel. The new vessel, the Aura II, is a deck carrier scheduled to be delivered in spring 2012.

This will be the first installation ever where a European commercial shipping operation is permanently powered by liquid biofuel. However, the Wärtsilä generating sets have the flexibility to be able to switch to marine diesel oil should the need arise. The liquid bio-fuel is produced at the ship owner's process refinery in Uusikaupunki, on the south-west coast of Finland.

"This contract clearly demonstrates Wärtsilä's ability to supply environmentally sustainable power solutions without substantial impact on costs to operators and investors. Our technology leadership in engines with diversified and flexible fuel supply options, and our ability to install a compact central diesel electric power plant in an engine room with confined space, were major factors in the award of this contract," said Jukka Paananen, Business Manager, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

The Aura II will be a multi-purpose dry cargo ship that can also be used for oil recovery operations in the Baltic Sea. In addition, the ship is designed for the transport of heavy modules to the offshore industry in the North Sea basin. When not operating as a deck carrier, the 4,350 dwt ship is designed also as a container carrier.

Advanced training on the Wärtsilä engines will be provided to the operator crews at the Wärtsilä Land & Sea Academy training centre in Turku, Finland. Wärtsilä already maintains and services the flagship vessel of Meriaura, the m/s 'Aura', under a maintenance contract agreement.