Twelve-vessel Design Contract For Wärtsilä
Wärtsilä has signed a ship design contract with Pipavav Shipyard of India. The contract calls for a total of twelve Offshore Supply Vessels (OSVs) to be designed by Wärtsilä and built by Pipavav, for delivery to ONGC – Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd, which is the largest oil and gas producer in India.
The yard is scheduled to begin production of the first seven vessels in the first quarter of 2010. The 59m vessels are designed to achieve a speed exceeding 12,5 knots, and will provide back-up for search, rescue and standby support. They will also transport cargo between ONGC’s supply base and its offshore installations.
ONGC originally invited participation from ship designers and shipyards worldwide for its pre-qualifying tender. Of the six shipyards subsequently shortlisted, four of the tenders submitted were based upon Wärtsilä designs. Pipavav Shipyard, who worked closely with Wärtsilä Ship Design throughout the tendering process, was awarded the contract for all twelve vessels. Building of the vessels is to be completed within 30 months. The value of the contract was not published.
“This represents a landmark order for Wärtsilä Ship Design, and is the result of many years of dedicated work by our team in Singapore. The design criteria for these vessels were stringent, and meet the latest demands of fire fighting and dynamic positioning capabilities for search and rescue standby support,” comments Ove H. Wilhelmsen, Managing Director of Wärtsilä Ship Design in Singapore.