Wärtsilä and Deltamarin partner to bring standardization to customized ferry design process

At the 35th Annual Interferry Conference in New York City, Wärtsilä and Deltamarin have announced plans to partner in developing an innovative series of ferry designs that aim to satisfy the need for a rational approach to ferry design, and to the entire newbuilding process, by bringing some standardization to a mostly customized newbuild process.  The goal? To produce sleek, modern ferry design concepts that bring into account both the operational requirements and special characteristics of each individual market and client, and the cost and time-to-market benefits of standardizing the pre-engineering of the ship machinery and systems (think the third row seating option you just purchased on that new minivan).  Wärtsilä tells us:

The break-through achieved by Wärtsilä and Deltamarin is the development of the so-called Parametric Design Method. Using this method, designers can make a clear distinction between the marketable and non-marketable features of a vessel. For example, the size and architecture of the passenger accommodation and recreation areas are marketable features of a ship, and can be tailored to each customer’s particular needs.  On the other hand, the construction of the ship – the engine room layout, piping and ventilation, power, navigation and automation systems can all be designed using a more industrial method.  By modularizing and parameterising these elements within the ship, the same benefits can be utilized in subsequent ships without them becoming duplicates.

The savings resulting from use of the parametric approach will be considerable, both in the initial investment as well as in operational costs. The industrial engineering of ship systems, and the serial effect created from pre-designed modules, are estimated to result in cost savings of approx. 15%. The fuel economy of these ferries, compared with ferries built 10-15 years ago, will also improve by 15%, not least as a result of developments in Wärtsilä’s technology and Deltamarin’s advances in ship design.

Wärtsilä and Deltamarin will also use an environmentally sustainable strategy with regards to the new design in order to meet both present and future environmental requirements:

An important aim of this project is to introduce advanced, environmentally sound solutions, applied in a modular way and that are prepared for any future requirements.

Deltamarin and Wärtsilä are continuously developing these solutions, and will continue to do so with this aim as a vital element of the sustainability strategy in both companies. Examples of this joint commitment include Deltamarin’s highly efficient ferry designs that are setting new standards in the market, and Wärtsilä’s propulsion arrangements, exhaust gas cleaning systems, and in particular, its base of installed LNG Dual Fuel marine engines, which is the largest in the market.

Keep reading full statement by Wärtsilä and Deltamarin.  More at Deltamarin website.

[Image via Wärtsilä Corporation]

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