Technology group Wärtsilä has signed a five-year Lifecycle Agreement with NMDC Group (NMDC), one of the largest dredging and marine contractors in the Middle East. The agreement represents a significant step forward in strengthening the partnership between Wärtsilä and NMDC. It will focus on optimising the availability and operational efficiency of NMDC’s dredging fleet. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q1 2025.
This comprehensive agreement covers seven of NMDC’s dredgers, with the potential to expand the scope to additional vessels in the future. The scope includes a tailor-made maintenance programme for the engine and propulsion equipment onboard the vessels, as well as digital solutions and performance guarantees. These are all aimed at increasing fleet availability and optimising maintenance costs.
With demand for its services increasing, the availability of its vessels is essential to NMDC’s operations. By leveraging Wärtsilä’s cutting-edge digital tools, such as Expert Insight, delivered through Wärtsilä’s global Expertise Centres, NMDC is expected to significantly reduce planned downtime, leading to increased revenues. According to estimations made, the additional uptime made possible by the agreement may increase the operational and charter/client schedule flexibility, and provide the potential for additional earnings up to 3,000,000 EUR. Similarly, the contract includes Dynamic Maintenance Planning, which reduces maintenance costs by 14%.
“Increasing availability and reducing downtime of our vessels is a priority for our company. That’s why this new agreement with Wärtsilä serves as a cornerstone in our efforts to advance reliable and sustainable operations within the Middle East,” says Peter Marvin, Chief Technical & Resource Pool Officer at NMDC Group. “We have a long-standing history with Wärtsilä, and we value their ongoing support in maximising our fleet’s potential so that we can continue to meet customer objectives in an ever-changing environment.”
“NMDC’s fleet operates in highly demanding environments, where uptime and vessel flexibility are critical. Our tailored digital solutions and expert operational support will ensure that their vessels are not only more reliable but also operate at peak efficiency throughout the contract duration, in turn, saving fuel and lowering emissions,” comments Henrik Wilhelms, Director, Agreement Sales at Wärtsilä. “This agreement is a testament to Wärtsilä’s commitment to delivering long-term value and enabling our customers to meet their growing operational challenges.”
As the shipping industry increasingly adopts digital and customised solutions to enhance operational performance, this agreement reflects Wärtsilä’s long-standing commitment to driving innovation and providing solutions that directly address customer needs in this evolving sector. With this agreement, Wärtsilä is poised to further cement its role as a trusted partner for NMDC, continuing a relationship that has been built on reliability and a shared vision for the future.
