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Finnish firm Wärtsilä reports that the first Wärtsilä X62 two-stroke engine has successfully passed its design validation and type approval tests and has "performed exceptionally well" during the necessary sea trials. It is now said to be ready for full market availability.

The Wärtsilä X62 is the latest in Wärtsilä’s X-Generation of engines that was introduced in 2012. Thus far, orders have been received for 127 X-Generation engines, Wärtsilä reports.

The engines feature a high stroke-to-bore ratio, thus achieving a lower engine speed and reduced brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC). The X62 incorporates Wärtsilä’s second generation electronically controlled, common-rail fuel injection system. The system is designed to facilitate high levels of combustion efficiency to give exceptional fuel savings across the entire load range of the engine. Another important feature of the Wärtsilä X-Generation engines is that a single electronic control system, the Wärtsilä UNIC, controls the fuel injection, the exhaust valve operation, and the cylinder lubrication. This is designed to allow flexibility in the optimised operation of the engine.

The first Wärtsilä X62 engines to enter actual service are to be used to power four 115,000-deadweight-tonne (dwt) LR2 product tankers being built for the Greek ship owner Kyklades Maritime Corp at the Gunsan shipyard of Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. in Korea. These vessels are to use the six cylinder version of the engine having a 12,360 kilowatt (kW) nominal maximum continuous rating.

"The X62 is an important addition to Wärtsilä’s engine portfolio and a valuable answer to the marine sector's need to increase fuel efficiency and minimise emissions. Although the tests and sea trials have only recently been accomplished, we have already orders for 16 Wärtsilä X62 engines, which is a clear indication of the demand for fuel efficient and highly reliable machinery," said Martin Wernli, Vice President, 2-stroke, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

The Wärtsilä X62 passed its Type Approval Tests (TAT) at Hyundai’s Ulsan engine works in October 2014. The TAT signals that the engine fulfils all the classification society requirements.

Sea trials were carried out in November 2014 aboard the tanker Nissos Therassia. "The engine exhibited low overall vibration levels and the expected high performance levels throughout the trials and in the Unmanned Machinery Space (UMS) tests," Wärtsilä said.