Wärtsilä Logs More Orders For Innovative Sulzer Engine

Wärtsilä Corporation has received the second order for Sulzer RT-flex diesel engines, which are powerplants that apply common-rail fuel injection with full electronic control to Sulzer RTA-series low-speed marine diesel engines. The units are reported to deliver benefits such as lower exhaust emissions, or lower fuel consumption at part load. Two seven-cylinder Sulzer RT-flex60C engines have been ordered to propel two 13,200 dwt containerized reefer ships contracted at Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo in Portugal. Each 7RT-flex60C engine will have a maximum continuous output of 16,520 kW (22,470 bhp) at 114 rpm. The engines will be built at Wärtsilä's Trieste, Itlay facility. The ships have been contracted by the Agricultural Export Co. (Agrexco) through Münchmeyer, Petersen GmbH & Co KG in Hamburg. They are sophisticated 21.3-knot refrigerated cargo ships designated Flexcon 21 that will be able to carry various cargoes. The Flexcon 21 design originates from Schiffko in Hamburg. Both ships are due for delivery in 2003, and will be employed on a 15-year long-term charter to transport agricultural products on a weekly schedule from the Eastern Mediterranean to Marseilles and Barcelona. The first Sulzer RT-flex production engine is currently being erected in the Ulsan works of the Wärtsilä licensee Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. It is a 6RT-flex58T-B engine for installation in a Handymax bulk carrier building for Gypsum Transportation Ltd. That ship is due for delivery in July 2001.