Wärtsilä Receives Repeat Order

Wärtsilä Corporation has received a repeat order for two more Sulzer RT-flex engines with electronically-controlled common-rail fuel injection. They will be installed in two 30,000 tdw multipurpose carriers contracted at Shanghai Shipyard in China by Chinese-Polish Joint Stock Shipping Co (Chipolbrok). Two similar engines were contracted in October 2001. The engines are seven-cylinder Sulzer RT-flex60C engines, each with a maximum continuous output of 16,520 kW (22,470 bhp) at 114 rev/min. The engines will be built under license by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co Ltd. For each vessel, Wärtsilä will also supply three Wärtsilä 6L20 auxiliary engines with a combined output of 3060 kW (4160 bhp) at 900 rev/min. Due for delivery in 2004, these vessels will be general cargo ships with movable tween-decks, fitted with heavy-lift cranes up to 640 tonnes capacity (SWL) and with a container capacity of about 2000 TEU. The vessels will operate around the world: China/Far East-North America-Europe-China/Far East. The service speed will be more than 19 knots. Chipolbrok's expectations in operational economy and reaching the highest environmental standards created a clear preference for the innovative RT-flex technology. Sulzer RT-flex engines are the first low-speed engines to have electronically-controlled common-rail systems for fuel injection and valve actuation. This gives unrivalled flexibility in the way the engines operate, to deliver benefits such as lower exhaust emissions, lower fuel consumption at part load, and better manoeuvring ability. The key feature of the RT-flex system is that it gives complete freedom in the timing and operation of fuel injection and exhaust valve actuation. This flexibility has been employed to provide smokeless operation at all ship speeds, and steady running of the engine at very low speeds, down to about 10-12 per cent nominal speed, also without smoke. The precise volumetric fuel injection control given by the RT-flex system reduces maintenance costs through extending times between overhauls. Engine availability is increased by both the integrated monitoring functions and by the redundancy in pumps, piping and electronics of the RT-flex system. There are now eight Sulzer RT-flex engines in service and on order. The first engine in service is the Sulzer 6RT-flex58T-B in the bulk carrier Gypsum Centennial which began operation in September 2001. The service experience with this engine has been very good, with currently more than 5000 hours' operation. In addition to the four engines for Chipolbrok, two Sulzer 7RT-flex60C engines have been ordered for two 13,200 tdw containerised reefers being built for Agrexco, and a Sulzer 6RT-flex58T-B for an Aframax tanker to be built in Japan for Scinicariello Ship Management. The first Sulzer RT-flex60C engine is currently completing tests at Wärtsilä's Trieste factory in Italy.