Technology group Wärtsilä will supply an integrated hybrid propulsion system for a new bulk carrier under construction at the Royal Bodewes shipyard in the Netherlands for Norwegian owner Aasen Shipping. This vessel is the sixth in the series to adopt the same Wärtsilä package. The order was recorded in Q3 2025.
Aasen Shipping continues to target lower emissions and reduced fuel costs by applying advanced solutions that support the sector’s decarbonisation goals. Paired with the efficient and flexible Wärtsilä 25 engine, the new hybrid system is designed to optimise operations, reduce fuel consumption, and enhance environmental performance across the company’s six newbuild bulk carriers.
According to Torbjørn Torkelsen, CEO of Aasen Shipping, earlier vessels equipped with Wärtsilä systems delivered strong operational efficiency. He added that the Wärtsilä 25 engine offers future-proof capability, enabling a switch to sustainable fuels when they become available. This aligns with the company’s long-term sustainability roadmap.
The 9,500 DWT vessel will feature a six-cylinder Wärtsilä 25 main engine with a Wärtsilä NOx Reducer, a Wärtsilä gearbox, a controllable pitch propeller with shaft line, and a Wärtsilä ProTouch remote propulsion control system. The hybrid installation integrates a DC hub, a 620 kWh battery pack, and Wärtsilä’s control, power, and energy management systems.
The Wärtsilä 25 is a medium-speed 4-stroke engine engineered for simple upgrades to low- or zero-carbon fuels. Offered in 6L–9L configurations with outputs from 1.7–3.4 MW, it can serve as either a primary or auxiliary engine.
Roger Holm, President of Wärtsilä Marine & Executive Vice President at Wärtsilä Corporation, noted that shipping’s decarbonisation path is accelerating demand for flexible, electrified, and hybrid solutions. He highlighted that Wärtsilä’s hybrid propulsion allows vessels to adapt to varying operating conditions, improving fuel efficiency and overall performance.
Delivery of the Wärtsilä equipment to the shipyard is scheduled for the first half of 2027.
