US maintenance contract success for Wärtsilä

The agreement between Wärtsilä and Crowley Petroleum Services involves the continuation of the long-standing co-operation between the two companies covering extensions and expansion of maintenance arrangements for 22 Wärtsilä engines on 11 articulated tug-barge (ATB) units owned by Crowley.

The agreement involves extending the original contract term from 2019 to 2023 whereby Crowley receives a comprehensive maintenance package, access to technical services and troubleshooting and response time guarantees in cases of unforeseen circumstances requiring immediate attention. Also included are performance guarantees covering time-sensitive situations where support teams can quickly troubleshoot problems minimising vessel downtime. The contract is Wärtsilä’s first maintenance agreement covering complete propulsion systems including seals and bearings.

The process involves ensuring planned maintenance during the ATBs drydocking programmes can be carried out on schedule including customisation of work along with on-going co-operation with Wärtsilä who state its customers are showing increased interest in comprehensive maintenance agreements allowing customers to concentrate on their core business.

Crowley’s ATBs comprise a tank barge with the tug positioned in a notch in the stern of the barge. The ATB has an articulated or hinged connection system allowing movement in one axis, the critical area of fore and aft pitch. This is different to integrated tug/barge units where tug and barge are locked together in a rigid connection becoming in effect one unit, the hinged movement of the ATB system is not present in the integrated system.

Separately, Wärtsilä has announced it is to acquire Transas the UK-based global ‘market leader’ in marine navigation solutions including complete bridge systems, digital products and electronic charts. The move is part of Wärtsilä’s aims to develop its Smart Marine Ecosystem which centres on establishing an ecosystem digitally connected across entire supply chains through applications that are secure, smart and cloud-based.

While this may not appear to be of immediate relevance to the tug industry, a quiet revolution is taking place in areas including automation and monitoring and it positions Wärtsilä in a stronger position given its presence in for example the area of machinery and propulsion for the towage industry.