A Recap of Wärtsilä’s Recent Vessel Projects

The first update concerns Finnish ferry operator Viking Line, which has signed a service agreement with Wärtsilä for the passenger ferry ‘Viking XPRS’. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q2 2026. The agreement has been tailored to the operational requirements of Viking XPRS, which operates on the Helsinki-Tallinn route. Covering the vessel’s Wärtsilä engines, the agreement is designed to enhance reliability and operational efficiency, improve maintenance cost predictability, and maximize vessel availability.

To achieve this, the scope of the agreement includes maintenance planning, scheduled spare parts, tailored maintenance support, and a dedicated Contract Manager responsible for overseeing all maintenance activities. Wärtsilä service agreements combine technical expertise, maintenance planning, spare parts support and dedicated lifecycle services in a long-term partnership model designed to improve availability, optimize performance and reduce operating costs throughout a vessel’s lifecycle.

TMS Cardiff Gas vessels

Another five-year service agreement was signed by Wärtsilä with Greece-based operator TMS Cardiff Gas to support the operation of two newbuild liquefied natural gas carrier (LNGC) vessels. Wärtsilä booked the order in Q3 2026.

As LNG trade continues to grow, vessel operators face increasing pressure to maintain high levels of reliability, efficiency and schedule adherence. Effective lifecycle support plays an important role in helping ship operators minimise unplanned downtime, optimize maintenance activities and secure the long-term performance of critical onboard assets. The latest agreement builds on a successful relationship between Wärtsilä and TMS Cardiff Gas, following the renewal in 2025 of an existing agreement covering seven vessels in the company’s fleet.

The agreement covers the recently delivered 174,000 cbm LNGCs Al Thurayya and Al Majhoulah. Through Wärtsilä’s Dynamic Maintenance Planning service, the vessels will benefit from flexible maintenance scheduling, extended maintenance intervals and reduced spare parts consumption.

The agreement also includes 24/7 remote operational support, contract management services and Expert Insight, Wärtsilä’s predictive maintenance solution that uses real-time operational data to identify potential issues before problems arise. Each vessel is equipped with two WinGD 5X72DF two-stroke main engines, four Wärtsilä 34DF auxiliary engines, and Wärtsilä gas valve units.

 34DF engines for 12 CMA CGM new container vessels

Wärtsilä will supply a total of 36 Wärtsilä 34DF dual fuel engines for 12 new 18,000 TEU container vessels being built for French operator CMA CGM at the Jiangnan Shipyard in China. The vessels will run on LNG, supporting CMA CGM’s ambition to operate lower‑emission deep‑sea container ships. The engines will be delivered through Wärtsilä’s joint venture company CWEC (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. The engine order for all 12 vessels was booked by Wärtsilä in Q1 2026. The orders for seals and bearings were booked in Q1 2026 for the first four vessels, with the remaining eight vessels booked in Q2 2026.

Supported by a mature global bunkering network, LNG remains a practical, lower‑emission fuel for deep‑sea operators. For large container vessels operating on LNG, the engine’s ability to consistently deliver strong efficiency leads to meaningful reductions in fuel consumption and associated emissions. CMA CGM already operates more than 160 Wärtsilä 34DF engines, providing a solid in‑fleet track record that informed the decision for this next series of newbuilds.

In addition to the 36 engines, Wärtsilä will also supply the seals and bearings, including its reputable Airguard seal system. This will deliver pollution free tightness and oil lubricated stern tube assembly (including after and forward stern tube bearings) and line shaft bearings, for these vessels.