Sixteen new gas carrier ships being built at Japanese shipyards will be powered by Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines, the engine manufacturer has announced.
The contracts, which are all with Japanese owners, were all placed between the second half of 2014 and December 2015, a statement from Wärtsilä said. The engines are capable of running on liquefied natural gas (LNG) or conventional diesel fuels.
The orders are for 20 nine-cylinder, 25 six-cylinder and 16 eight-cylinder Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines. “A total of 61 engines as part of the order running primarily on LNG represents a notable expansion of Japan’s gas fueled merchant fleet,” according to Wärtsilä. They will also be the first Wärtsilä 50DF engines delivered for Japan’s LNG carrier market. The first of the Wärtsilä machinery was delivered at the end of December 2015.
“We at Wärtsilä have always been at the forefront in making it possible, through our technologies, for LNG to become a viable marine fuel. This experience, our unmatched track record in gas propulsion applications, and our well proven dual-fuel solutions are why these contracts were awarded to Wärtsilä. We are honoured and pleased to be making this contribution to Japan’s ongoing shift into shipping’s gas age,” said Lars Anderson, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions’ Vice President.
The 16 vessels have a gas cargo capacity of between 155,000 and 180,000 cubic meters. They will be employed mainly in delivering shale gas from the USA to Japan.
Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel
According to Wärtsilä, “One of the reasons for the strong success of this particular engine over the alternatives is its superior propulsion efficiency. The clear environmental advantages that operating on gas allows, is another factor in the success of this technology. When operating in gas mode, the nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are at least 85 percent below those specified in the current IMO regulations, and CO2 emissions are some 25 percent less than those of a conventional marine engine running on diesel fuel. Additionally, the sulphur oxide (SOx) and particle emissions are negligible at almost zero percent.”
The company says both the gas admission and pilot fuel injection are electronically controlled. The engine functions are controlled by an advanced automation system that allows optimal running conditions to be set, independent of the ambient conditions or fuel type.
