Wartsila Receives Important Order within Brazilian Programme

Wärtsilä, the marine industry’s leading solutions and services provider, has been awarded yet another important order as part of the ongoing Brazilian programme to build a number of drill units (DRUs) to serve its offshore oil industry.

This latest in a series of contracts won by Wärtsilä is to supply complete mechanical packages, comprising the generating sets and thrusters, for three new drill ships to be built by Brazilian shipyard ECOVIX.

The vessels will be employed in Brazil’s pre-salt offshore oil fields. The contract was signed in November 2012.

Wärtsilä’s extensive experience in supplying state-of-the art vessel propulsion solutions for complex offshore projects is seen as being a key factor in the award of this and previous related contracts within the framework of the DRU programme. The programme involves significant investments in highly advanced special purpose vessels. The risks associated with project completion deadlines need, therefore, to be mitigated to the maximum possible extent. Of the contracts thus far awarded as part of Brazil’s DRU programme, Wärtsilä has been the most selected project partner.

The three new drill ships will each be powered by six Wärtsilä 32 generating sets and will feature six Wärtsilä underwater de-mountable thrusters. The special requirements stipulated by the Brazilian authorities have all been met. Delivery of the equipment will begin in 2013.

“The emergence of Wärtsilä as the partner most frequently specified in the DRU programme is no coincidence. Our experience as a global leader in systems integration, and our successful track record in providing total integrated solutions for the most demanding and difficult offshore applications, adds real value regarding the project completion targets,” says Magnus Miemois, Vice President, Solutions, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

A recent report by the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) monthly Oil Market Report forecasts world oil demand reaching 95 million barrels per day in 2016. Extending 500 miles across the Santos, Campos and Espirito Santo basins, Brazil’s pre-salt fields hold an estimated 10 billion to 16 billion barrels. These resources could eventually result in Brazil becoming one of the largest producers of oil in the world. This has led to tremendous growth in the country’s shipbuilding industry, and large investments in offshore drilling and platform supply vessels.

Wärtsilä has had operations in Brazil for more than 20 years and currently employs more than 600 people locally.