One of the world’s largest and most advanced self-propelled cutter dredger will be powered and monitored by Wartsila solutions.

The Chinese Tianjin Dredging Company, part of the China Communication Construction Company (CCCC) and the recently founded Dredging Group have signed an agreement, under which Wartsila will supply the engines and all essential ancillaries for a new self-propelled cutter dredger.

The contract for one of the world’s largest and most advanced vessels of its type was signed in June. It is being built at the Chinese Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries shipyard and will become CCCC Tianjin’s flagship.

Mr G.M Liu Chang Yun, Ship New Building Management Department, Tianjin Dredging Company of CCCC, said:

“We have a strong relationship with Wärtsilä and we are confident that they can provide the technology and support needed to make this project a success.”

The Wartsila technical and technological support in the project includes three 16-cylinder Wartsila 32 engines, it also includes a thoroughly planned interface to the external systems including the latest Wartsila Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) system.

Wartsila to power one of the world’s largest and most advanced self-propelled cutter dredger

Image: Wartsila

CBM and Remote Monitoring solutions of Wartsila support the daily operation of the installation by applying the company’s experience and operational know-how to keep the thermal and mechanical load at an optimum level. The equipment also enable savings in fuel consumption, while simultaneously providing greater environmental sustainability.

The Area Sales Director of Wartsila Ship power, Mr Hans Laheij, commented:

“This ship will be one of the largest and most modern self-propelled cutter suction dredger ever built, and the biggest in the world in terms of pump capacity. Reliability and operational efficiency are, therefore, essential and we are proud that Wärtsilä solutions have been selected to achieve these requirements.”

The 140 metre long vessel is scheduled to be delivered in October 2017. It will have a maximum dredging depth of 35 metres with a cutter power of up to 7500 kW.

Finnish Wartsila and CCCC signed a long term strategic cooperation agreement in April, 2014.

Under this agreement, both companies have agreed to work closely together on more efficient power and propulsion configurations. The aim of this agreement was to create solutions for CCCC's newbuildings that maximise their environmental sustainability and cost efficiency.