Norwegian pelagic vessel Gardar is about to become the first fishing vessel to be retrofitted with a Wärtsilä 31 main engine, with significant improvements promised in both emissions and fuel consumption.
Owned by Gardar AS, Gardar was built in 1998 and currently has an 18-cylinder, V-configuration Wärtsilä main engine, which is to be replaced with a 10-cylinder Wärtsilä 31 main engine as part of a package that includes a Wärtsilä NOx Reducer emission after-treatment system with a compact silencer. The propulsion control system will also be upgraded.
The replacement of Gardar’s main engine with the revolutionary new Wärtsilä 31 is predicted to reduce the pelagic vessel’s fuel consumption by 200,000 litres annually, as well as cutting its annual NOx emissions by 88 tonnes. The refit is therefore expected to improve significantly the vessel’s environmental footprint, while also rationalising operating costs.
Norwegian NOx Fund has committed a substantial amount of support for this project, resulting in a very satisfactory repayment period.
‘We are extremely happy to be able to make Gardar more ecologically sound. The investment in retrofitting the vessel will quickly pay itself back in terms of reduced fuel costs and NOx fees. We have been very satisfied with Wärtsilä’s engines and propulsion and consider installing the NOx reducers to two more of our vessels,’ said Christian Halstensen, owner and manager of Gardar AS.
‘We could not be prouder of this agreement, as it shows responsibility from the customer and gives us the opportunity to contribute to more environmentally sound shipping,’ said Wärtsilä Services sales director Cato Esperø.
‘At Wärtsilä, we understand that a project like this is an investment financially, but it is also an investment in our future. We warmly support every action that goes beyond just meeting the environmental regulations.’
