Both Wärtsilä and Tidewater view gas-fuelled marine engines as a logical way for ship owners and operators to comply with increasingly stringent environmental legislation, with the use of gas also having the potential for lowering fuel-related operating costs, said Wärtsilä.

In particular, the companies’ co-operation will cover the possible use of gas engines in a range of vessels used in offshore oil and gas applications, including:

  • Offshore service vessels;
  • Platform supply vessels;
  • Fast supply vessels;
  • Offshore tugs;
  • Terminal escort tugs; and,
  • Anchor handling towing supply vessels.

Wärtsilä said “In addition to the environmental benefits that LNG fuel offers, the shipping industry is increasingly looking to gas as a means of reducing operating costs. With fossil fuel prices – and especially the cost of low-carbon marine fuel – likely to continue to escalate, gas is an obvious economic alternative.

In promoting gas propulsion, the two companies aim to explore all the benefits and challenges associated with LNG fuel, and to share their findings and thoughts with the market, thereby accelerating its acceptance.

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“Being a major operator in the offshore oil and gas sector, we are exploring all possible ways of reducing the environmental impact of this work. At the same time, we see LNG as a means to address rising fuel and maintenance costs and we are, therefore, delighted to team up with Wärtsilä in order to accelerate the acceptance of LNG as a marine fuel,” said Tidewater Vice President Nelson Greer.