Wärtsilä has received a new order to supply an integrated hybrid propulsion system for a 9,500 DWT bulk carrier under construction at Royal Bodewes in the Netherlands for Norway-based Aasen Shipping. The contract, booked in Q3 2025, marks the sixth vessel in Aasen’s fleet to adopt a similar Wärtsilä technology package.
Hybrid propulsion to support emissions and fuel reduction targets
Aasen Shipping is expanding the use of hybrid systems as part of its strategy to reduce emissions, lower fuel consumption, and manage long-term carbon costs in line with tightening global decarbonisation requirements. The latest vessel will feature the Wärtsilä 25 engine combined with a hybrid system designed to optimise operational efficiency across multiple modes.
“The support from Wärtsilä and the performance efficiency of their equipment with the earlier ships in this series have strongly contributed to our dedication to operating efficient and cleaner cargo transport. In addition, Wärtsilä’s 25 main engine is designed to be future-proof, meaning we can switch to sustainable fuels as they become available, further supporting our ambitions for long-term environmental sustainability,” says Torbjørn Torkelsen, CEO, Aasen Shipping
Technical scope of supply
The new bulk carrier will be equipped with:
- One six-cylinder Wärtsilä 25 main engine
- A Wärtsilä NOx Reducer
- Wärtsilä gearbox and controllable pitch propeller with shaft line
- Wärtsilä ProTouch remote propulsion control system
- Hybrid system featuring a DC hub, 620 kWh battery capacity, and integrated energy and power management systems
The Wärtsilä 25 engine series is designed for future fuel flexibility, with the ability to be upgraded to run on low- or zero-carbon fuels. The engine range is available in 6L–9L configurations with an output of 1.7–3.4 MW, suitable for both main and auxiliary applications.
Industry shift toward hybridisation
Wärtsilä says the order reflects an accelerating market shift toward electrified and hybrid propulsion as shipping lines prepare for IMO-aligned decarbonisation timelines.
“The need to decarbonise shipping is driving the industry towards increasingly flexible, electrified and hybridised solutions, with sustainable fuel readiness also being built into newbuild solutions today,” says Roger Holm, President, Wärtsilä Marine & Executive Vice President, Wärtsilä Corporation
Holm added that hybrid systems enable vessels to maintain efficiency across varying operational conditions.
Delivery of the equipment to the shipyard is scheduled for the first half of 2027.
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Source: Wärtsilä
