Finnish technology group Wärtsilä and Japanese company MOL Global Ship Management have signed a ten-year lifecycle support contract with Wärtsilä for twelve LNG carriers delivered in 2024 and 2025.
The aim of the agreement is to reduce downtime and make maintenance planning in the LNG fleet more flexible. According to Wärtsilä, the package includes operational support with reduced engine downtime and more flexibility in maintenance intervals. Three vessels have been scheduled for the third quarter of 2025, with the remaining units scheduled for the first half of 2025.
“Wärtsilä’s Lifecycle Agreement will optimize our operations and maintenance so that we can maximize uptime and performance,” said Namit Mathur, Director at MOL Global Ship Management. The agreement will also contribute to more sustainable fleet operations by reducing emissions and improving efficiencies.
The scope of services includes Dynamic Maintenance Planning, 24/7 remote support and proactive contract management. The predictive maintenance solution Expert Insight uses real-time data from ship operations to detect faults at an early stage.
“Lifecycle agreements offer shipping companies like MOL operational reliability, cost certainty and optimized maintenance,” explained Henrik Wilhelms, Director Agreement Sales at Wärtsilä Marine.
The twelve LNG carriers are each equipped with two six-cylinder and two eight-cylinder Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel engines and four gas valve units. Catalytic converters are also used to reduce emissions.
Longer contract terms in vogue
Wärtsilä recently extended its lifecycle agreement with TMS Cardiff Gas. Last October, the two companies agreed on a five-year extension covering the two-stroke main engines of seven LNG carriers. The aim is to achieve maximum operational reliability and greater efficiency through digital maintenance planning, extended overhaul intervals and real-time monitoring.
The seven vessels are each equipped with two WinGD 5X72DF dual-fuel two-stroke engines and Wärtsilä gas valve units. The contract includes Dynamic Maintenance Planning, 24/7 remote support, contract management and the Expert Insight predictive maintenance service, which uses real-time data to detect potential problems at an early stage.
Long-term support contracts are also being concluded elsewhere in the LNG segment. In December 2025, OPearl LNG Ship Management agreed a 15-year service contract for 14 ships. According to the company, the aim is “stable ship operation” with high availability.
“Tight schedules require reliable ships that perform time and time again,” said WinGD Head of Service Rudi Holbecker at the time. The agreement ensures that the engines deliver “consistent, worry-free performance” over many voyages.
