Wärtsilä wins major FLNG propulsion order

Wärtsilä has secured an order to supply engines and thrusters for the first floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessels being built by Samsung Heavy Industries for the US-based Delfin LNG project.

The order, booked in the second quarter of 2026, will support the development of offshore LNG export infrastructure, with the propulsion systems designed to deliver efficient, reliable and environmentally sustainable operations.

Björn Axfors, lead engineer hull and marine at Delfin, said the ability to disconnect and move the vessel to safety during hurricane warnings was essential for operations off Louisiana.

“The chosen propulsion arrangement, including the ability to hoist the thrusters for inboard maintenance prior to the hurricane season, is part of the solution designed for reliable operations and to ensure the safety of crew and asset,” he said.

The vessel will serve the Port Delfin LNG project, approximately 40 nautical miles off the Louisiana coast, using existing onshore and offshore gas pipelines.

Wärtsilä will provide three 46DF dual-fuel engines, an exhaust gas treatment system incorporating selective catalytic reduction and Oxicat technologies, and three custom-designed inboard-mountable thrusters.

The thrusters will be the largest ever produced by Wärtsilä and the largest currently operating worldwide. Their patented design allows maintenance from inside the vessel, reducing downtime and enabling improved operational availability.

SHI vice-president of offshore procurement Youngjin Jeong said Wärtsilä’s engines and thrusters had helped meet the project’s specific requirements, adding that the companies looked forward to strengthening their partnership as the FLNG market grows.

Wärtsilä vice-president of propulsion Bernd Bertram said demand for FLNG projects reflected the need for flexible energy infrastructure.

Equipment deliveries are scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2027, with the vessel expected to enter operation in early 2030.