Wärtsilä and Emerson Process Management at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston announced yesterday an expansion of their global offshore alliance. Under this expansion, they can now deliver integrated energy and automation systems for Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels and semi submersible oil and gas drilling rigs. The companies' expanded relationship combines the process automation knowledge and state-of-the-art measurements and digital automation technology of Emerson, with the high efficiency power-generation, power-distribution and vessel-automation systems and products of Wärtsilä. Combined, they offer a single point for serving the Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) segment. In particular, they can now offer all system engineering, purchases, installations, commissioning and servicing for this market.

"The global sourcing and supply required in FPSO construction, amplify the importance of the expert engineering and project management that our alliance makes available" said, Jaakko Eskola, Group Vice President, Wärtsilä Ship Power. "Emerson and Wärtsilä's enhanced alliance delivers efficiency, true system integration, turnkey delivery and extended engineering services. We will also enable smooth tanker conversion and commissioning at the site, effectively delivering first oil rapidly at the highest speed."

"The expanded alliance provides a strong local presence in the most dominant areas of oil and gas exploration around the globe. This world-wide capability ensures that single-source service is closer to the customer" commented Tom Snead, President of Emerson's process systems and solutions division.  "The comprehensive project and engineering capabilities provide unique advantages for builders, owners, and operators in the marine industry by reducing risk in their capital intensive projects."

Emerson is a global supplier of process automation and control for oil and gas, refining, chemical and other industries, while Wärtsilä supplies power, automation and propulsion systems to marine and energy customers worldwide. The expansion of their alliance is based on the strength of two major FPSO conversions completed by the companies - YÙUM K'AK'NÁAB (YKN) now operating in Gulf of Mexico, and PetroServ Pipa 2 FPSO offshore Brazil. The engineering teams from these two industry leaders began their collaboration in 2006 within an alliance then mainly covering FPSO vessels.