Wärtsilä dual fuel engine sets another record

As the leading solution provider for the marine industry, Wärtsilä has successfully supplied the Wärtsilä 50DF dual fuel propulsion engine to 100 LNG carriers. This memorable milestone was recently realized at a Korean shipyard. 100 LNG vessels account for approximately a quarter of the world's total fleet.

The first application of Wärtsilä's advanced dual fuel technology was in the land power plant project in the early 1990s. Ten years later, the first marine 50DF engine came into being. This technology enables the engine to use natural gas, light fuel oil or heavy fuel oil as fuel, and can smoothly switch between different fuels during operation without causing power and speed. loss. This technology ensures operational safety and operability for continuous installation. The Wärtsilä 50DF engine is designed to ensure consistent performance regardless of fuel used.

In 2006, the Wärtsilä 50DF engine was used on the first natural gas carrier and has since led the industry. Since its inception, 65% of new natural gas carriers have been equipped with Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines. Compared to other competitors' solutions, the great success of this model is attributed to its superior propulsion efficiency. At the same time, meeting the environmental benefits of exhaust emission standards is another key factor in the success of this technology. When operating in a natural gas fuel mode, nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions are at least 85% lower than those specified in current IMO regulations, and CO2 emissions are less than 25% below standard, which is lower than traditional marine diesel engines. . In addition, sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter emissions are almost zero.

“This is a very important milestone for Wärtsilä, as well as for the ship industry. This milestone not only proves Wärtsilä's leading position in the natural gas transport industry, but also demonstrates the strong vitality of the Wärtsilä dual-fuel engine. Reliable operating records prove that they are the best choice for ship owners and operators. They are suitable for easy conversion in different modes of navigation, whether in the cold or tropical, or in the changing seas.” Wärtsilä Ships Lars Anderson, vice president of business and marine operations, said.

Other marine markets that are eager to try

After the Wärtsilä 50DF succeeded in the natural gas carrier market, ship owners and operators in other ship operations also began to consider using this technology. For example, the market for tankers and ferries is often operated in emission control areas, where the advantages of natural gas fuels are also being given greater attention. The new Viking Line ferry sailing between Finland and Sweden will be the world's largest natural gas ferry.

Similarly, the Wärtsilä dual-fuel engine will also be increasingly used in the offshore oil and gas industry. For flexibility, fuel efficiency requirements and strict environmental regulations, the Wärtsilä dual-fuel engine has become a trend.

To date, Wärtsilä has sold 720 dual-fuel engines, and the technology has a record of more than 5 million hours of cumulative operation. This is far more than any other engine manufacturer.

Expanded marine power solutions

Environmental factors and fuel economy constitute the development trend of the future market. Wärtsilä has expanded the supply of merchant ship equipment to include process efficiency and environmental compliance solutions. Therefore, it is positioned as the most suitable supplier of extended marine power solution systems.

Recently, Wärtsilä's acquisition of Womworth has helped Wärtsilä to become a leader in the treatment of natural evaporative gas reliquefaction technology in the LPG and LNG carrier market, providing economic and environmental solutions.