Wärtsilä has signed a manufacturing license agreement with COSCO (Weihai) Shipbuilding Marine Technology Company (WECOSCO) based in Weihai, China. The two-way agreement provides COSCO with access to technology and the rights to manufacture the Wärtsilä Aquarius Electro Chlorination (EC) Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) under license for application in their global marine market. In return, Wärtsilä gains access to an additional manufacturing facility able to assist with supply and demand of the Wärtsilä BWMS direct to Wärtsilä customers. The agreement signed in Weihai on 28 May 2015 and takes effect from 1 June 2015.
Wärtsilä will retain ownership of the Aquarius EC technology and all associated intellectual property rights, and will provide technical support to WECOSCO who will manufacture the system under license for applications on ships across the global marine market including COSCO. COSCO operates a number of shipyards in China and has one of the largest shipping fleets in the world. The Aquarius EC BWMS will be supplied with Type Approvals obtained by Wärtsilä and according to both IMO and USCG legislation will be installed not only new ships but also for the significant retrofit market.
The agreement has a five-year initial term. The two companies will support each other in delivering the BWMS technology and in providing long-term global service support and sales of spare parts.