Yaskawa Environmental Energy signs largest marine contract to date for Teekay and Wärtsilä shuttle tankers

Finland-headquartered Yaskawa Environmental Energy (also known as The Switch) has signed a contract to provide 16 DC hubs and 32 frequency converters for four new shuttle tankers developed by Teekay and Wärtsilä. The vessels are being built by Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea, and Yaskawa Environmental Energy has already commenced deliveries to Wärtsilä. The agreement is the biggest marine contract for Yaskawa Environmental Energy since entering the segment in 2013. According to the company’s general manager for Norway, Asbjørn Halsebakke, each vessel will feature eight frequency converters to help provide reliable performance, while the DC hubs will enable Wärtsilä’s hybrid solution, which uses batteries for fuel savings. “From the start, we’ve been focused on developing technology that lowers operational cost, enabling vessels to be more competitive and reducing their impact on the environment,” said Halsebakke. “We feel there is a growing demand for smarter, more sustainable operations, and this concept from Teekay and Wärtsilä embodies that drive. We’re delighted that our technology plays such an important role in a design that can be a real game-changer for the niche shuttle tanker segment.”