Wärtsilä has been contracted to supply propulsion to six new offshore Pipe Laying Vessels (PLVs) being built for operation in Brazilian waters.

The PLVs will be operating for the Brazilian multinational corporation Petrobras for the construction of pipelines from offshore oil rigs to the mainland. The six vessels are to be built by three different companies at yards in the Netherlands, Brazil and South Korea.
 
The Wärtsilä propulsion solutions selected for the six vessels include design, main engines, and propellers and will be delivered during the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013. The first vessels are scheduled to be launched in 2014, with all six to be fully operable before the end of 2015.
 
"We have been selected to supply all six vessels in the tender, for which the owners, shipyards, and even the design are different," says Magnus Miemois, Vice President Ship Power Offshore. "This is a notable achievement for a number of reasons. In the first place, it is recognition of Wärtsilä's experience and expertise in supplying high quality, reliable, and efficient integrated solutions. These contracts also strengthen Wärtsilä's installed base in Brazil, which is fully supported by our local service organisation. This means that customers are assured of well proven, highly efficient, reliable equipment, backed by 24/7 service capability close to the area of operation."

The two PLVs to be built for a France-based joint venture between Technip and Odebrecht Oleo & Gas (OOG) at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) yard in South Korea, will utilize a Wärtsilä Ship Design (WSD) VS4146 design. For each of these vessels, Wärtsilä will also supply three Wärtsilä Modular Thrusters (LMT), two retractable thrusters, and two tunnel thrusters (TT).

For the 550 tonne PLV ordered by London-based Subsea7, Wärtsilä will supply six Wärtsilä 32 in-line engines, three Wärtsilä Modular Thrusters, two retractable thrusters, and two tunnel thrusters. For the two 550 tonne PLVS that Malaysia-based Sapura Crest Petroleum Bhd will build at the IHC Merwede shipyard in the Netherlands, Wärtsilä will supply six Wärtsilä 32 in-line engines, three Lips Modular thrusters, two retractable thrusters, and two tunnel thrusters. For the 300 tonne PLV that the same company will build at the OSX Construcao Naval yard in Brazil, Wärtsilä will supply four Wärtsilä 32 in-line engines, three Wärtsilä Compact Thrusters (LCT) for primary propulsion, one retractable thruster, and two tunnel thrusters.