Wärtsilä introduces new waterjet series for ferries, yachts and naval vessels

Wärtsilä has introduced a new series of waterjet solutions. This new midsize series enhances Wärtsilä’s competitive range of stainless steel jets to include all sizes from 510 mm to 3250 mm. This makes Wärtsilä the only supplier serving both midsize and the lower range of large Waterjet applications with a single product. The new series is aimed particularly at the high speed ferry, high speed patrol craft, and customized yachting segments.

The new high performance Wärtsilä waterjets feature a number of significant competitive advantages and are designed for long-term, reliable performance. This is achieved through the use of high quality materials for structural parts, and the wide use of stainless steel in the jet construction. Although aluminium is a widely used and accepted material for jet fabrication, the Wärtsilä solution utilizes abrasion resistant stainless steel to conserve the carefully designed shape of the stator blades in order to retain high levels of fuel efficiency. The impeller and shaft are also constructed from stainless steel. These features not only deliver continuous high performance, but also notably reduce short-term maintenance requirements.

“This enhanced midsize waterjet series makes Wärtsilä extremely competitive for a vast array of high speed vessel applications. The ease of installation, the reliability, and the overall attention to detail that these waterjets incorporate, puts them at the forefront of developments in this field,” says Aaron Bresnahan, Vice President, Special Vessels Segment, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

Strong focus on development

The new series of Wärtsilä waterjet comes in a fast and easy ‘plug & play’ installation module that offers owners and shipyards lower installation costs and simplified build schedules. The packaged delivery has inlet duct shapes optimized for different hull forms, thus freeing the yard from the responsibilities of inlet duct construction. The integral inlet duct designs were thoroughly researched by Wärtsilä’s Computational Fluid Dynamics Department to achieve the optimal hydrodynamic properties.

Another key element of the Wärtsilä solution is that the hydraulic system has no oil retaining elements protruding outside of the vessel’s transom. This not only eases maintenance, but is important from an environmental point of view. Wärtsilä is committed to the development of environmentally sound solutions in all its activities. As with all Wärtsilä products, this waterjet design series is fully supported by Wärtsilä’s global service network that assures rapid response regardless of where in the world the vessel is located.

In 2006, Wärtsilä introduced its line of axial flow waterjets that is today in operation in many 100 plus metre monohull, catamaran and trimaran designs. The largest 26,000 kW jets are driven by the latest generation of gas turbines. While maintaining the excellent hydrodynamic properties and extended cavitation margins of the large axial waterjet designs, Wärtsilä’s new midsize series represents a cost competitive, easy-to-install package for a shaft power of up to 4500 kW.

Photo: The picture illustrates the cost competitive, easy-to-install package for a shaft power of up to 4500 kW courtesy Wärtsilä

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