Wärtsilä delivers engines to South African su...

Wärtsilä Corporation, Press release, 1 March 2010, at 11.30 am EET

Wärtsilä has signed a contract with the STX Finland Oy shipyard in Rauma,
Finland, to deliver four Wärtsilä 32 engines for a Polar Supply and Research
Vessel. The Owner of the vessel will be the Republic of South Africa's
Department of Environmental Affairs. The vessel's crew will be trained at the
Wärtsilä Land and Sea Academy in Turku, Finland.

"This vessel order is one of the biggest single trade agreements ever between
Finnish industry and South Africa, and we hope it will lead to additional
business. We believe that by providing reliable technology and the highest
levels of quality and service, we will benefit also in the future," says Mr Timo
Suistio, Director, Rauma shipyard of STX Finland Oy. STX Finland announced the
vessel order in November last year.

The vessel will be approximately 134 metres long and will have accommodation for
45 crew and about 100 researchers and passengers. Wärtsilä's engine deliveries
are scheduled to take place in February 2011. The vessel will be launched in
March 2012.

The vessel is being built for research activities and expeditions. It will be
used to carry equipment and scientists working on the South African National
Antarctic Programme, and it will also have ice-breaking capabilities.

"As it will be operating in extreme conditions, the new vessel will need to be
very reliable. It will also have to act as a tanker, because it will need to
carry fuel oil for use at the Antarctic base. Every drop of fuel oil in the
consumption chain will count. Wärtsilä 32 engines offer both low rates of fuel
consumption and low levels of emissions, an important consideration when
operating in the Antarctic's vulnerable natural environment," says Jukka
Paananen, Sales Director, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

Wärtsilä has worked closely with STX Finland Oy for many years, and has a good
relationship with the South African Department of Environmental Affairs. The new
vessel will replace the Agulhas, which is equipped with Wärtsilä controllable
pitch propellers. The Department also owns a patrol vessel equipped with
Wärtsilä main engines and propellers.


Link to a picture can be found at the end of this release
Caption: The new Polar Supply and Research Vessel to be built by STX Finland Oy,
shipyard in Rauma, will be equipped with four Wärtsilä 32 engines.


For further information, please contact

Mr Jukka Paananen
Sales Director
Wärtsilä Ship Power
Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]


Ms Tuula Franck
Senior Manager, External Communications
Wärtsilä Corporation
Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]


Wärtsilä in brief

Wärtsilä is a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions for the marine
and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total
efficiency, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the
vessels and power plants of its customers.

In 2009, Wärtsilä's net sales totalled EUR 5.3 billion with more than 18,000
employees. The company has operations in 160 locations in 70 countries around
the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland.

www.wartsila.com



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    The new Polar Supply and Research Vessel : 

http://hugin.info/131481/R/1389475/347649.jpg