Wärtsilä has been contracted to provide re-liquefaction plants for three new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers that are currently under construction.

One of the vessels is being built at the Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) yard in South Korea for Monaco-based owner, operator and manager of LNG carriers Gaslog.

The remaining vessels are being built for Norwegian company Knutsen at the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) yard in South Korea.

Wärtsilä's re-liquefaction plants will each feature a capacity of 1.5t/h-2.5t/h and are expected to include the company’s new mixed refrigerant (MR) technology, which is an energy efficient solution designed for smaller liquefaction applications.

Delivery of the Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled to begin by February next year.

Wärtsilä Marine Solution Flow and Gas Solutions vice-president Timo Koponen said: “Wärtsilä is a total LNG solutions provider with products, systems, and solutions for applications throughout the entire value chain.”

Wärtsilä had previously provided nitrogen based re-liquefaction plants for two new Knutsen vessels, which were successfully delivered last year.

Knutsen currently provides shipping operation, new-building supervision, chartering and project development services.

Gaslog has a fleet of 27 owned LNG carriers, including 22 ships in operation and further five LNG vessels on order.

The company’s existing fleet also includes nine LNG carriers in operation, which are owned by its subsidiary GasLog Partners.

Image: A 3D model of a typical deckhouse for a 2.5t/h MR reliquefaction plant. Photo: courtesy of Wärtsilä.