Wärtsilä has won a contract from Vinashin Shipbuilding Industry Corporation in Vietnam to supply fixed pitch propellers (FPP) for a series of five bulk carriers under construction for UK-based shipowner Graig Group. The contract signed in November, marks Wärtsilä's first FPP contract from a Vietnamese shipyard.
"Wärtsilä has previously supplied propulsion equipment for Graig's award-winning Diamond 53 bulk carrier series but this is the first of a series of Wärtsilä FP propellers contracted by a Vietnamese shipyard. Vietnam is increasingly becoming an important player in the global shipbuilding market and we are pleased that Vinashin has offered Wärtsilä this opportunity to supply our propulsion equipment to this emerging shipbuilding force," said Jaakko Eskola, Vice President of Wärtsilä Ship Power Business.
Due for delivery in August 2007, the first LIPS-type propeller will be for installation to a Diamond 34K bulker under construction at Vinashin's Pha Rung shipyard. The first vessel is due for delivery to Graig in November 2007. The CarlBro-designed D34K is a double-hulled, handy-size bulk carrier with a length of 180.00m, a moulded breadth of 30m and a deadweight of 34,000t. The first ships in the series have reportedly been sold to an Italian shipowner.
