Wärtsilä was contracted to supply integrated power and automation systems for two Russian icebreakers.
Wärtsilä won the contract to supply integrated power and automation systems for two new icebreakers being built for a Russian state-owned enterprise by Vyborg Shipyard JSC, a long-time partner of Wärtsilä. The contract was signed in October 2012.
The vessels, scheduled to be delivered in 2015, will operate mainly in the Baltic Sea and in Arctic waters. Wärtsilä's strong track record in supplying reliable and technically sound solutions for icebreakers, and other vessels operating in arctic conditions, was cited as being a key factor in the award of this contract. There is an option pending to supply similar equipment for a third icebreaker within this same project.
"Wärtsilä has a leading market position in supplying power and automation systems for icebreakers and other vessels that operate in harsh, arctic conditions. Such ships are usually working a long way from port repair facilities, and for that reason reliability and operating efficiencies are essential. We have worked closely with the leading Russian ship-owners for many years, and they are well aware of our capabilities in this area," says Aaron Bresnahan, Vice President Sales, Wärtsilä Ship Power.
Wärtsilä has been present in Russia for more than 30 years and has a strong position in the market. The company employs more than 125 people serving the marine and power plant markets, for both new installations and after-sales service of existing installations.