Wärtsilä Solutions Increase Safety in Arctic Waters

The technology group Wärtsilä has been contracted by Sovcomflot, Russia’s largest shipping company, to roll out a Wärtsilä Fleet Operations solution for Sovcomflot’s fleet of Arctic shuttle tankers.

The aim is to promote sustainable development, and to increase the safety and efficiency of operations in the sensitive Arctic waters. Wärtsilä will also provide a core solution for the company’s fleet operation center. The order was booked in March 2019.

The solution has been developed as a result of collaboration between Sovcomflot and Transas, a Wärtsilä company. It provides a unique integrated infrastructure that combines the bridge systems, cloud data management, data services, decision support tools, and access to real-time information. In addition to the significant efficiency benefits, the solution also offers operational cost reduction advantages.

The Fleet Operations solution agreement signed with Sovcomflot comprises the upgrade of the navigation systems installed onboard the company’s vessels operating in Arctic waters. The upgraded onboard systems will ensure real-time ship-to-shore data exchange, thus connecting the onboard equipment with Sovcomflot’s operation center to enable shared-decision making.    

The Sovcomflot shuttle tankers are operating year-round in Russian Arctic waters. The project is expected to be completed before the end of this year. The fleet operation center, located in the company’s St Petersburg headquarters, has already been commissioned.