Wärtsilä Ship Design has introduced a new optimised stern trawler design that it says will reduce fuel consumption and notably increase overall vessel efficiency compared to others currently on the market.

The propulsion system is based upon the Wärtsilä 31 engine, which has been recognised by the Guinness World Records as being the world's most efficient 4-stroke diesel engine.

"Stern trawlers can be out fishing for up to 350 days a year and fuel consumption is, therefore, an extremely relevant consideration. Our new design features the very latest technologies, and has been developed to offer the fishing industry lower fuel costs and greater possibilities for profitable operations," said Riku-Pekka Hägg, Vice President, Ship Design, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.

The Wärtsilä VS 6215 ST 82m stern trawler design has a unique aft ship layout. Furthermore, the combination of an optimised hull and a propulsion system driven by the Wärtsilä 31 engine sets this design apart from anything seen before in this market segment.

In addition to the hybrid battery technology, the design also incorporates Wärtsilä's 2-speed gearbox for further reductions in fuel consumption and emissions.

It also features Wärtsilä's hybrid battery technology, which offers a significant energy efficiency improvement over conventional systems by running the engine at optimal load and absorbing many of the load fluctuations using batteries.

Wärtsilä’s VS 6215 ST stern trawler design will be a feature of the Wärtsilä stand at the Nor-Fishing 2016 conference and exhibition being held in Trondheim, Norway from August 16 to 19.