The technology group Wärtsilä launches the Wärtsilä 31SG pure gas engine for marine market applications. It is based on the successful Wärtsilä 31 product platform. The diesel version of the engine has been recognised by Guinness World Records as being the world’s most efficient 4-stroke diesel engine. The Wärtsilä 31SG engine further reduces the total cost of ownership and the environmental footprint for vessels operating in regions where there is a developed gas infrastructure. The commercial launch of the Wärtsilä 31SG takes place in September at the Gastech 2019 conference and exhibition being held in Houston, Texas, as well as at the Neva St. Petersburg exhibition and maritime forum in St.Petersburg, Russia.

The technology group Wärtsilä will supply a broad scope of solutions that will support Hurtigruten, the world’s largest expedition cruise operator, in its push for greener and more sustainable shipping. Hurtigruten, considered one of the world’s most sustainable cruise operators, is converting an additional three vessels to become premium, hybrid powered expedition cruise ships. The order with Wärtsilä was placed in Q2 2019 and covers the ‘MS Finnmarken’, the first of the three vessels to be upgraded. Following the conversion project, the 140 metre, 530 guest MS Finnmarken will be renamed the MS Otto Sverdrup.

Bore has signed a new-building contract with Wuhu Shipyard Co.Ltd in China for three (3) new LNG-powered RoLo vessels to be built during 2020-2021. Thereby, Bore’s operated fleet will grow to 11 vessels. The new state-of-the-art RoLo vessels will serve under a long-term charter agreement with UPM.

The project aims to improve the safety and efficiency of maritime fairways through digitalization. In the project, floating as well as land-based aids to navigation will be equipped with devices for remote monitoring and control as well as environmental sensors. The project partners are Meritaito, the Port of Stockholm and the Port of Naantali. The innovative new technologies of the project will be piloted in the ports.

The technology group Wärtsilä has achieved a new technology benchmark with the introduction of the marine sector’s first hybrid installation for a bulk carrier. This innovative system will be installed on the M/V ‘Paolo Topic’, a bulk carrier built at Onomichi Dockyard in Japan and managed by Marlin Management S.A.M. The project agreement was signed on July 8 in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

The European Investment Bank has signed a EUR 70 million loan with Kvarken Link Oy, a special purpose vehicle jointly owned by the municipalities of Umeå in Sweden and Vaasa in Finland, to acquire a new ferry to transport passengers and vehicles between their two ports.

Cavotec has won another order for its innovative MoorMaster™ automated mooring technology for a ferry berth at the Port of Turku in Finland. The system will be delivered in 2020.