Wärtsilä Wins FP Propeller Order for Bulk Carriers

Wärtsilä has won a Vinashin Shipbuilding Industry Corporation contract to supply fixed pitch (FP) propellers for a series of five bulk carriers under construction for UK-based shipowner Graig Group. The contract signed in November, marks Wärtsilä's first FP propeller contract from a Vietnamese shipyard.

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 590 ft., a molded breadth of 98.4 ft. and a deadweight of 34,000 tons. The first ships in the series have reportedly been sold to an Italian shipowner.

Wärtsilä's LIPS-type fixed pitch propeller propellers are custom designed and made for each application. Propellers vary in diameter from 1 to 12 metres and from several hundreds of kilos to more than 100 tonnes, while the propellers for these series will have a diameter of 5600 mm. The propellers will be delivered complete with shafting and Wärtsilä's JMT seals. The seals are of Sternguard 4BL type.