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Wärtsilä says its new 46DF engine emphasizes its "leading position" in dual-fuel engine technology. Compared to other alternatives currently available on the market, the company claims the engine's specific fuel consumption is lower, output is remarkably higher, and lifecycle costs are "extremely attractive".

"With the introduction of its new Wärtsilä 46DF engine, Wärtsilä, the marine industry's leading provider of innovative products, solutions and services, has once again raised the technology bar in the dual-fuel engine market. At the same time, it has strengthened its offering in the medium-speed engine sector," Wärtsilä said in a statement.

The fuel flexible Wärtsilä 46DF engine has been specifically developed for the high-output market segment, including cruise ships and ferries, merchant vessels, LNG carriers and FSRUs (Floating Storage and Regasification Unit), and offshore vessels and platforms, and is capable of operating on natural gas, heavy fuel oil, or marine diesel oil. This fuel flexibility enables reduced operational expenses, compliance with the most stringent emission standards, and full redundancy to ensure uninterrupted operation.

"With this newly launched product, Wärtsilä has raised the industry standard even higher, since it offers simultaneously drastically lower specific fuel consumption, both in gas and diesel fuel mode, remarkably higher output, and extremely attractive lifecycle costs compared to any other alternative currently available on the market," commented Lars Anderson, Vice President 4-stroke Sales, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

The Wärtsilä 46DF consists of two different versions to meet specific customer needs. The high efficiency version is said to offer "drastically lower" fuel consumption with a cylinder power of 1045 kilowatts (kW), while the high power version is said to be capable of a cylinder power of 1145kW with "excellent" engine thermal efficiency.

For LNG carrier applications, Wärtsilä claims the 46DF can offer fuel savings of as much as 20 tonnes per day compared to the first introduced DF engines. With up to 14 fewer cylinders installed, the overall lifecycle installation costs are significantly and positively impacted by roughly USD 1000 per day.

When operating in gas mode, the Wärtsilä 46DF engine is already compliant with IMO Tier III regulations without any secondary exhaust gas purification systems. When fuelled by gas, the sulphur oxide (SOx) and carbon dioxide (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 emission regulations set out in Annex VI of the MARPOL 73/78 convention.

Wärtsilä is a leading player in the development of dual-fuel engine technology for marine applications. Since introducing its dual-fuel technology in 1995, the company's dual-fuel engines have successfully accumulated 10 million running hours in both marine and land-based applications. Today, more than 1000 Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines have been sold globally.