The Finnish technology group Wärtsilä (www.wartsila.com) has been contracted to supply 16 engines for four new LNG carrier vessels being built at the Hudong Zhonghua shipyard in China.

Delivery is scheduled to start in the second half of 2018. Each of the four 174,000m3-capacity vessels will be fitted with four Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel generating sets (running primarily on LNG fuel) to provide the ships with auxiliary power.

Their total power output will be 56MW. Delivery of the LNG carriers, which are being built for Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines, will start in 2019.

Wärtsilä’s 34DF engine is made in a variety of in-line and V configurations that give 500kW per cylinder and an engine speed of 720-750rev/min.

Lars Anderson, Vice President, Engine Sales, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions, said: “This valuable order once again emphasises Wärtsilä’s leading position in gas and dual-fuel engine technology.

“We are pleased to be working on this project with the Hudong Zhonghua yard, a company with whom we have enjoyed a good relationship for some years.

“The order also confirms our growing presence in China and our ability to serve the Chinese market.”