The Ship Power Supplier
Wärtsilä’s transformation from
component to system integrator
by Lauri Erroll, Ship Power, Wärtsilä in Finland
propulsion system product, developed
by Wärtsilä as a single source supplier
Fig. 1 – The Propac principle.
Wärtsilä’s heritage in shipbuilding and
marine propulsion equipment is a long
and proud one, and in some form, it
can be traced back to 1865. However
it was not until the 1930s that the
companies active in Finnish shipbuilding
at the time merged to form the Wärtsilä
Shipbuilding Division.
By the 1960s, marine engine
manufacturing, which had started as a
spin-off from the shipbuilding business,
had become a major aspect of Wärtsilä’s
product portolio, but since then it has
evolved to provide complete integrated
propulsion systems, supplying everything
from the engine through to the propeller.
This is evident in the way its propeller
business has evolved. Wärtsilä’s fixed
pitch propeller design and manufacture
dates back to 1882, whereas the first
controllable pitch propellers were
28 – Wärtsilä
“Propac is an integrated mechanical
with commitment to lifetime support”
introduced by Wärtsilä Propulsion in
1903. But despite this long history, there
has never been an attempt to utilize the
collective experience from these activities.
Until now, that is, and extensive research
and development has resulted in a
new system product called Propac – a
propulsion package in which technologies
and performances are fully optimized in
a pre-engineered, integrated propulsion
system built around a selected scope of
products.
Wärtsilä offers a vast variety of in-house
marine equipment ranging from high-
and medium-speed engines to the largest
2-stroke crosshead engines. Reduction gears
are available in a multitude of standard and
tailor-made designs. Propellers can be fixed
pitch or controllable pitch, four- or five-
bladed, in aluminum bronze or in stainless
steel. Steerable thrusters and even waterjets
can be offered from Wärtsilä’s in-house
product ranges.
Control systems are likewise tailor-
made with various programmable logic
controllers, using conventional relay
automation or based on distributed smart
controls and bus communication.
What makes it difficult to fully
comprehend a supplier’s product range
is that many suppliers are willing to
deliver both outsourced equipment and
technologies such as gears from dedicated
gearbox makers and diesel-electric drives
from specialized companies, which further
contributes to the large number of options.
It can be difficult for a shipyard to
select the most suitable equipment for a
given project. A large number of products
is available. All suppliers praise their
products and there is economic pressure
to select low-cost equipment. Shipowners
naturally drive their own preferences.
Compromises seldom result in the most
seaworthy solutions with the right price
tag.
3 – 2005
Fig. 2 – Vessel types illustrating the diversity of propulsion requirements.

Fig. 3 – ‘Classical collisions’ avoided through pre-engineering.

Selecting a propulsion package is a

move forward from the European style
of extensive and expensive tailoring
towards competitively priced high-quality
propulsion solutions that meet the demands
of the Asian shipbuilding market.
True propulsion packages, such as the
Wärtsilä Propac, require considerable effort
in choosing the right components. In reality
the issue is not about merely ‘choosing’
the products from a basket of ‘whatever
happens to be there’ but actively developing
a product portfolio in which technologies
and performances match
Unknown or contradictory component
and package main dimensions can result in
the following typical problems:
1. Inadequate space reservation for the
shaft alternator
2. Collision between gearbox and engine
charge air receiver
3. Total installation length versus engine Fig. 4 – Components in a Propac CP (controllable pitch propeller).
room length.

3 – 2005 Marine News – 29

 The Ship Power Supplier
Fig. 5 – Propac ST (steerable thruster) in a tug.
Fig. 6 – Propac CP (controllable pitch propller) fitted into the hull.
Such collisions can be avoided by
carefully preselecting components and
ensuring that design data is available
at an early stage. Performance-related
compatibility is a more demanding
requirement and is best ensured through
the feedback collected from a high number
of propulsion packages built with the same
in-house main components.
Building packages requires an in-depth
knowledge of the relevant application.
The package requirements for a tug, for
example, differ completely from those of a
container feeder.
Suitable outline specifications must
be prepared. Equipment must be pre-
engineered so that components match
and integrated solutions meeting
30 – Wärtsilä
stringent performance requirements
can be offered without extensive time-
consuming negotiations, even though the
inquiries received are brief and provide
little detail.
Propac ST & CP
Wärtsilä is unique in being able to package
mainly in-house products from its various
ship power knowledge centres. This makes
it possible to maintain a Propac platform
and do the required long-term product
development work in matching the
components.
Wärtsilä Propac’s integration work
began with the Wärtsilä 20 and Wärtsilä 26
engines combined with Wärtsilä gears and
with Wärtsilä’s Lips controllable pitch
D-hub propellers, and Wärtsilä’s JMT seals
and bearings. Steerable compact thrusters in
controllable pitch and fixed pitch propeller
configurations were also included.
As the product range includes everything
necessary for higher outputs, Wärtsilä
has also developed packages for higher
outputs using the Wärtsilä 32, Wärtsilä 38
and Wärtsilä 46 engines and applications
such as general cargo vessels and container
feeders.
Pre-engineered solutions
Pre-engineered packages offer a number of
key benefits:
 Fast and precise response to inquiries.
A shipyard could expect an offer within
one or two working days
3 – 2005
Fig. 7 – Propeller strength and hydrodynamic performance can be evaluated using FEM and computational fluid dynamics
calculations.
Fig. 8 – Good project tools assist planning of Propac commissioning.
 Improved accuracy of specification
 Reduced pricing “safety margin”
 Good technical support during project
management. Installation planning
instructions made available
instantaneously with only a few final
fine-tuned drawings supplied later
 Litte technical risk, reliable main
dimensions and weight already at the
negotiation stage
 Predictable package performance,
whether for ship’s speed, bollard pull or
any other performance parameter
 Well managed package commissioning
with efficient use of resources
 High-quality instructions, user manuals
and spare parts books.
3 – 2005
For a shipyard and a shipowner every
project is unique and standardization is
not always recognized as a positive feature.
Propac projects allow for project-specific
engineering in key areas.
Shaft arrangements are always finalized
according to the project needs. Detailed
alignment and torsional and whirling
vibration calculations are made even though
numerous references and experience from
full-scale deliveries give a good basis for
component selection. Hydrodynamic
optimization of the propeller blades is done
for each project. Wärtsilä possesses in-house
hydrodynamic expertise unmatched by
other propulsion package makers today.
Extending monitoring and wiring
diagrams to scopes beyond the
preconfigured platform demands project-
specific design but can easily be done
because package monitoring constituting
the lion’s share of the work is already well
defined.
Designing entirely new options not
covered by the existing Propac platform is
always given due consideration.
Planned commissioning work
Commissioning a large scope of delivery
often involves technicians from several
product factories working together with
the shipyard. Though this does constitute
a significant cost item, it emphasizes the
importance of managing commissioning
work properly, in co-operation with
the shipyard and with sufficient mutual
transparency regarding schedules and work
planning.
Commissioning and project costs are
always charged to the product, a fact
sometimes ignored when looking for short-
term interest and accepting poorly defined
areas of responsibility.
Preconfigured propulsion packages make
it possible to specify commissioning in
detail and define clear responsibility limits.
Reporting matches the initial plan defined
in specific and clear work cards.
Through-life
Equipment selected for Propac packaging
represents technology recommended by
Wärtsilä. Installing preferred equipment
ensures the best possible level of service,
not only when the goods are purchased and
the ship project is completed, but also after
the vessel has entered service. This is most
important for the owner and operator who
will benefit from:
 High-quality documentation
 Long-term worldwide availability of
spares
 Services provided by the growing
Wärtsilä service network single source
supplier contacts for the shaftline from
engine to propeller including all ancillary
equipment controls and monitoring. 
Marine News – 31