Wärtsilä and the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) are the main contributors to a new technology research program focused on developing propulsion systems that are specifically for vessels deployed in artic conditions.

The Arctic Thruster Ecosystem ( ArTEco) project is to be supported fully by 10 industrial and academic partners from Finland and around the world.

The project will last three years, starting in 2015 and ending in 2017, and will also involve simulation and load determining methods for dynamic loading conditions; researching possibilities for dampening loads; researching the use of environmentally acceptable lubricants in propulsion products; and researching new sensor technology for components used in propulsion products.

“The creation of this project consortium will help us maintain our position as an innovator and technology leader within the marine sector," says Arto Lehtinen, vice president, propulsion, Wärtsilä Ship Power. “In particular, the state-of-the-art simulation methods and the possibility to carry out full-scale validation of our new products will keep us at the forefront of new technology development."

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