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Finnish engine manufacturer Wärtsilä has introduced a new upgrade kit for slow steaming for low-speed engines, which aims to enable shipowners and operators to make major savings in fuel costs while slow steaming their ships.

The upgrade kit allows Wärtsilä low-speed marine engines to be operated continuously at any power in the range of 20 to 100 percent. This means that with the upgrade kit ships can sail continuously at sea speeds down to some 60 percent full speed.

High bunker prices have put fuel efficiency high on the agenda of charterers, shipowners and ship operators. This has has led to considerable interest in slow steaming, which is when ships are operated for long periods at reduced sea speeds.

Yet without modification with the new upgrade kit, Wärtsilä says there is increased risk of engine fouling and excessive component temperatures when operating continuously below 50 percent engine load.

The upgrade kit overcomes such problems, according to Wärtsilä. The modified engine is not permanently derated but can operate at any time up to its full installed power.

The concept of the upgrade kit is to cut out a turbocharger when the engine is to be operated at low load. This increases the scavenge air delivery at low load for better combustion and more optimum temperatures of engine components. This means more efficient fuel consumption, which helps to cut ship owners' fuel costs and to reduce emissions.

The first upgrade kits were ordered in November 2008 by the German owner Koepping Shipping Company for two container vessels, each with a Wärtsilä low-speed engine. The two ships, "Aglaia" [pictured] and "Lantau Arrow", are fast feeder container vessels.

Joerg Koepping, Managing Director of Koepping Shipping, said "The Slow-Steaming Upgrade Kits will give these ships considerable flexibility to adapt to the present difficult market conditions, allowing great cost savings while slow steaming but retaining the capability for full speed whenever necessary."

The upgrade kit is available for all RTA and RT-flex engines with multiple turbochargers. It is delivered by Wärtsilä on a turn-key basis and includes engine performance analysis, cabling and installation, all materials and their transport, service engineers to undertake the whole installation and commissioning, and emission measurement and certification.

The installation and commissioning of the upgrade kit can be completed during normal commercial operation of the ship and during normal port calls.