Finland’s The Switch has secured a contract to deliver advanced shaft generator drives for four LNG-powered tankers under construction in China.
The Switch, a Finnish power electronics company and part of Japan’s BEMAC Corporation, will supply single drives for shaft generators on four Aframax-class tankers currently being built at Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry in Fujian Province, China.
Each tanker will have a deadweight of 113,600 tonnes and is being constructed for UK-based shipowner Union Maritime (UML). The vessels are designed by the Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute (SDARI) and will feature dual-fuel engines capable of running on liquefied natural gas (LNG). Delivery is scheduled for the first half of 2027.
According to The Switch, the drives will control power generated from the tankers’ two-stroke main engines. This system is expected to improve operational efficiency, reduce fuel use, and lower emissions.
The power take-off (PTO) technology used in the system will be supplied by Swiss marine developer WinGD. The company is collaborating closely with The Switch to integrate energy-efficient solutions into the propulsion systems.
Stefan Goranov, Head of Integrated Energy Solutions at WinGD, expressed confidence in the Finnish company’s expertise. He said both companies share a strong focus on delivering sustainable marine energy systems.
This deal follows an earlier agreement signed in April between WinGD and Xiamen Shipbuilding to supply hybrid power and energy systems for four wind-assisted tankers ordered by UML. That contract marked the first application of WinGD’s X-EL Integrated Energy solution on this type of vessel.
