Spirit of Hela – Wärtsilä increases operational safety and predictability for two LNG carriers of MOL LNG Transport (Europe) Ltd. (photo: MOL LNG Transport Europe Ltd.)

Wärtsilä has signed a 10-year maintenance agreement with MOL LNG Transport Europe Ltd., an affiliate of the Japanese MOL Group. The agreement, which covers two LNG carriers, increases the predictability of the vessels’ operations, enhances safety and reduces operational costs. The comprehensive service agreement includes all scheduled engine maintenance activities, workshop services and online remote support.

With Wärtsilä’s Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) solution, maintenance activities for the two vessels’ engines can be planned based on actual engine condition rather than following a strict calendar-based schedule. The CBM solution controls and extends the engine maintenance intervals, reducing operational costs and downtime. Wärtsilä’s CBM monitoring system continuously collects data about the engines’ operating parameters and transmits the information in real time to a Wärtsilä service centre for technical expert analysis.

“We see great potential in the growing LNG industry and are very happy to partner with MOL LNG Transport (Europe) Ltd. to help the company optimise the maintenance of its vessels. A long-term maintenance agreement allows us to plan maintenance activities efficiently, taking into account equipment condition as well as the customer’s operating schedule and environment,” says Andy Dickinson, Managing Director, Wärtsilä UK.

The vessels covered by the agreement, LNG carriers Spirit of Hela and Gigira Laitebo, are equipped with four Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines each.

“We value Wärtsilä’s expertise and knowledge about these engines and therefore see Wärtsilä as a valued working partner for cost effective maintenance of our LNG carriers. We also place great importance on maximising our vessels’ availability, which will be achieved through this agreement,” says Martin Gallacher, Deputy General Manager, MOL LNG Transport (Europe) Ltd.

MOL LNG Transport (Europe) Ltd., based in London, is part of the ocean shipping company MOL Group (Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd.), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The MOL Group, stock listed in Tokyo and Nagoya – a leader in international ocean shipping – transports natural gas around the world and continuously develops its LNG fleet to meet the increasing demand for natural gas as well as to ensure the operational efficiency and safety of its vessels.

Tags: MOL LNG Transport Europe Ltd., Wärtsilä