Wärtsilä to Safeguard Ops of OPearl’s 14 LNG Carriers

Technology group Wärtsilä has signed a ten-year lifecycle agreement with Hong Kong-based OPearl LNG Ship Management covering a total of 14 LNG carrier vessels.

The agreement is designed to ensure the vessels’ maximum operational reliability by enabling flexible maintenance scheduling and optimizing time between overhauls (TBO).

The scope of the agreement includes Wärtsilä’s Dynamic Maintenance Planning solution, which will provide flexible maintenance scheduling and extended maintenance intervals, 24/7 remote operational support, as well as contract management.

It also includes Expert Insight, Wärtsilä's predictive maintenance solution that uses real-time vessel data to detect potential issues and assist in optimizing operation and maintenance.

By leveraging advanced AI capabilities, Expert Insight will enable OPearl LNG Ship Management to identify anomalies early and address emerging issues proactively, thereby reducing the risk of unexpected downtime and ensuring smoother, more reliable journeys.

The 14 vessels covered by this agreement will be delivered between the third quarter of 2025 and second quarter of 2027. Each ship will operate with two six-cylinder and two eight-cylinder Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel engines.

They will also each feature four Wärtsilä Gas Valve Units (GVU).

“We currently manage tight delivery schedules and require operations with minimal downtime and reduced maintenance interruptions. This long-term agreement with Wärtsilä is intended to support these operational requirements and assist us in reliably meeting our delivery commitments to our customers,” said General Manager, Captain. Nomura – OPearl LNG Ship Management.

OPearl LNG Ship Management was established in December 2023 as a joint venture by China Merchant LNG, CNOOC and NYK to serve as the ship management arm for all three shareholders.