Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, a division of the technology group Wärtsilä, has secured a contract to provide cargo handling and fuel supply systems for four new Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs) being built by COSCO Shipping (Qidong) Offshore. Wärtsilä’s reputation as a leading designer and supplier in this field played a significant role in winning this contract. The order was placed in two phases, with the first two vessels booked in the fourth quarter of 2024 and the remaining two in the second quarter of 2025. The scope of work for Wärtsilä includes comprehensive engineering, material supply, and supervision, as well as commissioning and gas trials for the systems.
This encompasses machinery, instrumentation, and the electric and control systems. Additionally, Wärtsilä will support the shipbuilding process with on-site assistance at the yard during the construction of the vessels. Barry Yang, Sales Manager for Wärtsilä Gas Solutions in China, emphasized the importance of this contract, highlighting Wärtsilä’s expertise with Very Large Gas Carriers. Although this is their first contract with COSCO for these systems, the two companies have collaborated on various projects in the past, making this partnership particularly meaningful.
The delivery of the Wärtsilä Gas Solutions equipment to the yard is planned for the latter half of 2025. Once completed, the four VLGCs, each with a capacity of 88,000 cubic meters, are expected to commence commercial operations by late 2026. This project underscores not only the ongoing collaboration between Wärtsilä and COSCO Shipping but also the growing demand for advanced gas carrier technology.