Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions maintains strong position in China’s maritime and offshore markets

Time:2013-12-12 Browse:46 Author:RISINGSUN
Signs of strengthening newbuilding demand in specialist marine and offshore sectors repay company`s investment in an extended product portfolio.


Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions (WTS) has maintained a strong position as a preferred supplier to China`s shipbuilding and asset operating community with a strong focus on innovation and total solutions delivery.


China continues to be a territory of strategic importance for Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions and the company has been active during the last five years to bolster its product portfolio, adding several new products to its established range of safety, environmental, HVAC, electrical and insulation solutions.


Yilie Shen, China Area Director, Safety and Environment, notes an improvement in trading conditions in China which supports the shift towards higher quality, high value products.


"A key trend we observe is the movement of Chinese shipyards away from low cost commodity shipbuilding and into higher value ship and offshore projects. That makes WTS natural partner when they are seeking to broaden their understanding of the solutions which are required in these sectors."


Recent acquisitions by WTS include Novenco Fire-Fighting A/S which brings specialised knowledge in water mist fire suppression technology. Also added to the portfolio is Maritime Protection, which is specialised in provision of diesel and dual fuel inert gas generators.


Maritime Protection IG generators are designed for installation on LNG and LPG carriers, with a smaller footprint than conventional IG systems, taking into account the premium for space in machinery areas on next generation LNG vessels.


For marine and offshore fire fighting applications and particularly where certain owners are looking to move away from CO2 systems, WTS provides the Unitor XFlow Water Mist system. Using patented `XFlow` nozzle technology, this low pressure system can provide protection area up to 5,000 sq m - an area which traditionally has required a high pressure system.


Employing this technology means that shipyards can specify a standard level of piping and control systems to keep installation, maintenance and water consumption low, while still relying on a highly effective solution.


For owners placing newbuilding orders with an eye to energy saving onboard ship with a fast ROI, WTS provides the Engine Room - Energy Management Technology (ER-EMT) solution.


ER-EMT uses the True Demand? concept that automatically responds to the varying conditions of the engine room. The system alters the ventilation and combustion air supply to meet the demand of fresh air to the engine room and varies the sea water pumps to the actual cooling demand of the diesel engine at any given time.


Mr Shen adds that WTS` focus on providing high quality solutions positions the company for continued success in the China maritime market, focussed on provision of innovative added value services.


"WTS is a total safety solution provider. We work with our customers to optimise their quality and cost efficiency throughout the vessel and offshore lifecycle. We will continue to improve our operational efficiency to bring more benefits to our customers, and reduce the total costs of ownership for our customers. Our dedicated technical and operational team in China ensures we can apply global capabilities in a local context and continue to position ourselves as the preferred provider of safety solutions for newbuildings."