New Navimag ferry powered by Wärtsilä set to sail southern waters

With its propulsion equipment supplied by the technology group Wärtsilä, Navimag Ferries’ brand new vessel, the ‘Esperanza’, has been delivered. Wärtsilä worked in close cooperation with Naviform Consulting & Research, the ship designer, to develop an innovative total solution that aligned the propulsion with the hull form and the ship’s operating profile. This collaboration ensured the level of high efficiency required.

The 150 metres long vessel can carry up to 274 passengers and has 1800 vehicle lane metres. It will operate exclusively in Chile, sailing between Puerto Montt and Puerto Natales, and providing a vital transportation link with Chile’s south, in addition to ferry cruising in the Patagonian fjords.

“Our ability to support the design process together with Naviform was very important to this project. The design is innovative, and we were able to deliver the right propulsion solution for the vessel, with high efficiency, reliability, low fuel consumption, and lifecycle support as the key enablers,” says Mark Keneford, General Manager, Marine Sales, Wärtsilä Canada.

“This project required a non-conventional design, and we very much appreciate Wärtsilä’s support throughout the design process. Close collaboration was needed to ensure that the equipment ordered was dimensioned accordingly, and that both the operating and environmental performance met the high standards that we required. We are very proud of the end result,” says Mr Cesar Barrera, CEO, Navimag.

The propulsion solution selected includes two Wärtsilä 20 main engines, two Wärtsilä controlled pitch propellers (CPP), and two Wärtsilä gearboxes. The system is designed for optimal efficiency with low levels of exhaust emissions. 

Wärtsilä in brief:
Wärtsilä is a global leader in smart technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising sustainable innovation, total efficiency and data analytics, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2019, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 5.2 billion with approximately 19,000 employees. The company has operations in over 200 locations in more than 80 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
www.wartsila.com