Wartsila Opens Service Centre in Murmansk - Signs Agreement of Good Will With Governor Dmitrienko

HELSINKI - Wartsila has today opened a Service Centre in Murmansk, Russia, to serve the rapidly growing number of vessels in northern waters. The Service Centre demonstrates Wartsila’s commitment to expand in line with the increasing marine activity in the Barents Sea region. To emphasise the importance of co-operation, Wartsila’s President & CEO Ole Johansson and the Governor of the Murmansk Oblast region of Russia, Dmitry Vladimirovich Dmitrienko, jointly signed a document of goodwill.

Being the only year-round ice-free port in north western Russia, Murmansk is rapidly being developed as a major transport hub. It is also the operational centre for the development of the vast Shtokman gas condensates field. The port is home to more than 20 maritime companies, and is attracting an increasing number of international companies to the region.

“Local presence and availability are of utmost importance in assuring efficient customer support. The new Service Centre in Murmansk is a further step in our strategy to continuously develop our unique worldwide service network,” says Ole Johansson, ” We are very pleased with the welcoming support of the government of the Murmansk Oblast. This new facility is further emphasizing the importance of Murmansk as a service hub for the region”

Full range of sales and service support

The Wartsila Murmansk Service Centre provides a full range of sales and support services for all local marine and offshore customers. The service capacity will enable Wartsila to offer more efficient and fully focused support to the growing fleet of merchant vessels, offshore vessels, offshore platforms, and offshore facilities in the region.

The Service Centre offers overhauling of main and auxiliary marine engines, as well as maintenance and repairs of ancillary equipment, pipe work, electrical equipment, ship automation systems, and other equipment.

The Murmansk service workshop is being staffed initially with 15 employees, but this number is expected to increase in the near future. The majority of employees are being hired locally. They will be trained both at the Wartsila Land & Sea Academy in Finland, and on site according to Wartsila’s global standards.

Wartsila in brief

Wartsila is a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total efficiency, Wartsila maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers.

In 2008, Wartsila’s net sales totalled EUR 4.6 billion with 19,000 employees. The company has operations in 160 locations in 70 countries around the world. Wartsila is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland.

Pictures from the inauguration will be available later today at www.wartsila.com/press

www.wartsila.com

Source: Wartsila Corporation

For Further information, please call: Mr Atte Palomaki, Group Vice President, Communications & Branding, Wartsila Corporation, Tel. +358-405476390, Email: atte.palomaki at wartsila.com; Mr Dmitry Firsov, President, Wartsila in Russia, Tel: +7(812)-4483248, Email: dmitry.firsov at wartsila.com