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Two Chinese shipbuilders have ordered dual-fuel (DF) engine and propulsion systems from the Finnish based multinational marine company, Wärtsilä.
Ningbo Xinle Shipbuilding Group Co., Ltd in conjunction with its trading partner, Shanghai CSR Hange Shipping Engineering Co., Ltd., and Cosco (Dalian) shipyards have ordered the equipment from Wärtsilä for installation on two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.
Each vessel will be powered by a Wärtsilä 50DF engine, controllable pitch propeller (CPP), gearbox and related systems. The 50DF engines will operate primarily on LNG while retaining the option to switch to conventional marine fuels if necessary.
"Wärtsilä has been a pioneer in developing the technology that enables LNG carriers to utilise gas as a fuel, and the technical strength of this technology has provided considerable added value for our customers,” said Aaron Bresnahan, vice president sales, Wärtsilä Ship Power.
“Chinese owners are beginning to invest significantly in LNG carriers powered by dual-fuel engines, and these latest orders will add impetus to the market, both in China and globally.”
The DF engines also provide the advantage of lowering emission levels to comply with current and anticipated environmental legislation. When operating in gas mode, the nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are at least 85 per cent below those specified in the current IMO regulations, and CO2 emissions are 25 per cent less than those of a conventional marine engine running on diesel fuel. Additionally, the sulphur oxide (SOx) and particle emissions are negligible.
Wärtsilä says that their DF engines can also be run at stable low speeds for extended periods of time.
Deliveries of the Wärtsilä equipment are scheduled to begin in the summer of 2014, and the ships will be launched approximately one year later.
The ships are being built for two different Chinese owners, the Zhejiang Yuanhe Ocean Shipping Company and Dalian Inteh Group Co.,Ltd. They will operate mainly in Chinese waters, and will transport LNG between terminals and to other ships.