Sign up
Log in Sign up
Thu 19 Jul 2012, 09:36 GMT

Tankers to be fitted with fuel-efficient engines


Energy-efficient engines to be supplied to nine tankers being built for Kuwait Oil Tanker Co.

Wärtsilä has announced that it will supply the main engines for a series of vessels being built for Kuwait Oil Tanker Co. (KOTC), a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. Four VLCCs (Very Large Crude Oil Carriers), one Aframax tanker and four medium-range tankers are being built at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) shipyard in South Korea.

The VLCCs will be fitted with 7-cylinder Wärtsilä RT-flex 82T engines and a Waste Heat Recovery System, whereby the exhaust gas energy is utilized to generate steam. This steam is used to operate a turbo generator that produces electricity for the ship.

The Aframax vessel will be powered by a Wärtsilä 6-cylinder RT-flex 58T main engine, and the medium-range tankers by a Wärtsilä 7RT-flex50D main engine. All engines will be built by the Engine & Machinery Division of Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (HHI-EMD), which is a Wärtsilä licensee since 1975 and based in South-Korea. The orders were received during the first half of the year.

Wärtsilä's RT-flex common rail engine technology is designed with electronically controlled fuel injection and valve operation. Its benefits include extremely low Specific Fuel Oil Consumption (SFOC) across the entire operation range, and smokeless operation at all running speeds.

"The choice of Wärtsilä RT-flex engines ensures that these new vessels will be both fuel and energy efficient, and that their emissions will be minimized. It is obvious that the Wärtsilä RT-flex82 engine is increasingly becoming the preferred choice for VLCCs worldwide," said Lars Anderson, Vice President Merchant, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

KOTC has considerable experience with Wärtsilä's engine technology. The company already has two of its vessels fitted with Wärtsilä main engines and four vessels fitted with Wärtsilä auxiliary engines.

Hapag-Lloyd and DSV logo side by side. Hapag-Lloyd and DSV sign 18,000-tonne CO2e reduction agreement for sustainable marine fuels  

Two-year framework allows inclusion of alternative fuels beyond biofuels in shipping decarbonisation partnership.
Bangkok city skyline. Uni-Fuels opens Thailand office as part of Southeast Asia expansion  

Marine fuel supplier establishes Bangkok entity, appoints managing director with 15 years’ industry experience.
Washington State Hybrid-Electric 160-Auto Ferry vessel render. Corvus Energy to supply battery systems for Washington State Ferries hybrid vessels  

ABB selects Corvus for two new 160-vehicle ferries as part of $3.98bn electrification plan.
Vinssen and Mana Engineering sign MoU. Vinssen, Mana Engineering partner on hydrogen fuel cell retrofit for 800-teu feeder vessel  

South Korean and Dutch firms to pursue Lloyd’s Register approval for hybrid retrofit concept.
Hercules Elisabeth vessel. Hercules Tanker Management takes delivery of second Ultra-Spec vessel in China  

Hercules Elisabeth is the second of 10 hybrid-ready tankers designed for alternative fuels.
Wolf 1 vessel. Petrol Ofisi launches fuel supply tanker Wolf 1  

Turkish bunker supplier adds 1,750-dwt vessel with alternative fuel infrastructure to fleet.
BIMCO meeting. BIMCO to convene for adoption of biofuel clause and ETS provisions at February meeting  

Documentary Committee to consider new contractual frameworks for alternative fuels and emission trading scheme compliance.
Sea Change II vessel render. Incat Crowther and Switch Maritime develop 150-passenger hydrogen ferry for New York  

Design work begins on 28-metre vessel with 720 kg hydrogen capacity and 25-knot speed.
Aerial view of a container vessel. HIF Global signs heads of agreement with German eFuel One for 100,000 tonnes of e-methanol annually  

Deal covers supply from HIF’s Uruguay project, with e-methanol meeting EU RED III standards.
Welcoming of Kota Odyssey at Jordan’s Aqaba Container Terminal. PIL’s LNG-powered vessel makes maiden call at Jordan’s Aqaba port  

Kota Odyssey is Pacific International Lines’ first LNG-fuelled ship to call at the Red Sea port.




 Recommended