Technology company - Wärtsilä is set to provide an integrated hybrid propulsion system for a bulk carrier being constructed at the Royal Bodewes shipyard in the Netherlands, commissioned by Norwegian shipowner - Aasen Shipping.
This vessel forms part of a series of six that will feature similar Wärtsilä-supplied components. Wärtsilä confirmed this contract in the third quarter of 2025.
Wärtsilä's hybrid propulsion system
The incorporation of the efficient and adaptable Wärtsilä 25 engine, alongside Wärtsilä’s hybrid propulsion system
The drive to meet the global shipping industry's rigorous decarbonisation targets sees Aasen Shipping deploying advanced technologies aimed at reducing emissions and cutting fuel expenditure.
The incorporation of the efficient and adaptable Wärtsilä 25 engine, alongside Wärtsilä’s hybrid propulsion system, seeks to optimise operations, conserve fuel and boost the environmental sustainability of the fleet of new bulk carriers.
Commitment to environmental sustainability
CEO of Aasen Shipping, Torbjørn Torkelsen, remarked, "The support from Wärtsilä and the performance efficiency of their equipment with the earlier ships in this series have strongly contributed to our dedication to operating efficient and cleaner cargo transport."
He further stated that the Wärtsilä 25 main engine, being future-proof, allows for a transition to sustainable fuels as they become accessible, thus supporting their long-term environmental sustainability goals.
Technical specifications and features
The hybrid system will integrate a DC hub alongside a 620kWh battery capacity, with vast control
The 9500 DWT bulk carrier will feature a six-cylinder Wärtsilä 25 main engine, incorporating a Wärtsilä NOx Reducer, together with a Wärtsilä gearbox and controllable pitch propeller complemented by shaft line and a Wärtsilä ProTouch remote propulsion control system.
The hybrid system will integrate a DC hub alongside a 620kWh battery capacity, with comprehensive control, battery, power, and energy management systems included.
The medium-speed, 4-stroke Wärtsilä 25 engine is designed to facilitate upgrades for future use with low or zero-carbon fuels, available in 6L to 9L variants, providing 1.7–3.4 MW power output, suitable as both a main and auxiliary power source.
Efficiency and performance enhancements
According to Roger Holm, Wärtsilä Marine's President and Executive Vice President at Wärtsilä Corporation, “The need to decarbonise shipping is driving the industry towards increasingly flexible, electrified, and hybridised solutions, with sustainable fuel readiness also being built into newbuild solutions today.”
He added that Wärtsilä’s hybrid propulsion systems are crafted to maintain operational efficiency across various modes, ensuring adaptability to shifting conditions, thereby improving fuel efficiency and overall vessel performance. The scheduled delivery for Wärtsilä's equipment is set for the first half of 2027 to the Royal Bodewes shipyard.
