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Wärtsilä has further developed its dual fuel technology and introduced a more powerful version of its 34DF engine.

The Wärtsilä 34DF engine has been used in a wide range of vessel applications. The latest version is expected to expand that range even further. Wärtsilä also says that the lower fuel consumption of this engine will further improve its environmental performance.

Since 2003, the Wärtsilä 34DF has paved the way in the LNG-fuelled offshore support vessel market. Today, this product is being mainly used in tugs, ferries, Ro-Ro, Ro-Pax and workboats. The new and upgraded version of the Wärtsilä 34DF engine increases the efficiency in both liquid and gas operating modes and offers a power increase up to 500kw per cylinder.

This increased output means that the Wärtsilä 34DF now covers a power range from 2,9 MW to 8 MW. In addition to the increase in power, fuel economy is also enhanced, especially when operating in liquid fuel mode. This, together with the high loading capability and the reliability of the Wärtsilä 34DF engine, is seen as giving the new version a strong competitive advantage.

"The Wärtsilä 34DF engine has been a popular choice of ship owners, operators, and yards for a long time already, and this next generation version will certainly enhance its popularity. By improving both the power and fuel efficiency, we aim to maintain the leading position that we have in gas engine technology and as a gas engine manufacturer. It is also important to point out that the environmental performance of the Wärtsilä 34DF is already excellent, and by lowering the fuel consumption we are also lowering the exhaust emissions even further," said Giulio Tirelli, Director, Wärtsilä Ship Power, 4-stroke Portfolio & Applications.

When operating in gas mode, the Wärtsilä 34DF engine is already compliant with IMO Tier III regulations without any secondary exhaust gas purification systems. Also when fuelled by gas, the SOx and CO2 emissions are notably reduced, and smokeless operation is attained. In liquid fuel oil mode, the Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines are fully compliant with the IMO Tier II exhaust emissions regulations set out in Annex VI of the MARPOL 73/78 convention.

The engine is able to operate efficiently and economically on low sulphur fuels (<0.1% S), making it suitable for operation in emission-controlled areas.

The newly obtained certification of emission standard compliance from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Wärtsilä 34DF further endorses the environmental compliance of this engine.