May 31 - Wartsila, a leading ship power systems integrator, has signed a contract to deliver a ship power system for a 38,000 tonne semi-submersible heavy lift vessel for Chinese customer Zhejiang Share-ever Business Co., Ltd.

Zhejiang Share-ever Business Co., Ltd is a privately owned company with a fleet of more than 20 large vessels, including 72 m offshore platform supply ships, ocean cargo carriers of between 27,000 and 50,000 tonnes, and drag-suction dredgers.

Zhejiang Share-ever Business Co., Ltd is a new customer to Wartsila. This vessel will operate in offshore waters around the world, and will be mainly used in loading and transporting large offshore equipment required by the offshore oil and gas industry.

The vessel will be delivered in the end of 2011 and its engine configuration is based on the proven Wartsila 32 medium speed engines. The scope of supply includes three 9-cylinder in-line Wartsila 32 generating sets for a diesel electric installation, and three tunnel thrusters.

"This kind of vessel has generated great interest amongst investors in the marine industry, and the market for it appears to be growing rapidly. Wartsila has been very successful in taking its share of related business opportunities, and we now have an excellent list of references to show our customers," said Michael Zhou, business manager, special vessels, Wartsila in China.

The 38,000 tonne self-propelled semi-submersible vessel has a total length of 195 and a maximum submersion depth of 23 m.