| Wartsila Upgrade Kit Slow Steaming 2-stroke Engines |
 |
 |
 |
|
Wärtsilä Services has developed an upgrade kit, which enables the owners and operators to operate their vessels in “slow steaming” mode in order to save fuel costs while keeping emission levels in an acceptable range. Low-speed two-stroke crosshead diesel engines are normally operated in a load range above 60 % CMCR. Slow speeds result in a continuous engine operation between 10 % and 40 % engine load. The Upgrade Kit Slow Steaming allows continuous operation between 10 % and 100 % CMCR without additional operational restrictions, assuring reduced fuel consumption.
* Engine operation in the load range between 10 % and 100 % CMCR without any additional restrictions Package content * Pre-inspection Wärtsilä, the marine industry’s leading ship power system integrator, has signed a contract with the German shipowner Jüngerhans, located in Haren (Ems), Germany, to refit two of its vessels with Wärtsilä Slow Steaming Upgrade Kits to cut fuel costs. The 1997-built vessels are equipped with 7-cylinder Wärtsilä RTA62U main engines. "The Wärtsilä Slow Steaming Upgrade Kits will give these ships considerable flexibility for adapting to the prevailing challenging market conditions. They offer considerable cost savings when slow steaming the ships, while retaining the capability for full speed whenever necessary,” comments Mr Herm Jüngerhans, Managing Director, Jüngerhans. In response to over-capacity in the market and a desire to cut overall fuel consumption, during recent months charterers have adjusted both their services and the speed of their ships. Slow steaming has become an established way of operating vessels, particularly in the container segment. Slow steaming offers clear benefits for charterers in terms of substantially reduced fuel consumption and considerable savings in overall ship operation costs.
For ships powered by Wärtsilä RTA and RT-flex low-speed engines with more than one turbocharger, Wärtsilä introduced its Slow Steaming Upgrade Kit in 2008. The kit enables ship owners and operators to achieve major savings in fuel costs by allowing them to slow steam their ships. “The Slow Steaming Upgrade Kit both extends the load range of the engine for continuous operation, and significantly reduces BSFC (brake specific fuel consumption) in the low-load range,” explains Jürgen Gerdes, Director, Services, Wärtsilä in Switzerland. The Wärtsilä Upgrade Kit Slow Steaming also helps ship owners, operators and charterers to increase the flexibility of their engines, permitting them to run anywhere from 10% to 100% maximum load without operational restrictions, and to decrease the risk of engine fouling and excessive component temperatures. The BSFC figures that can be achieved are strongly dependent on the final NOX emission balances over the entire load range. For ships that must comply with the IMO NOX emission regulations, the restrictions imposed by the emissions limits will be evaluated in each case and a customized solution package offered. “Operational flexibility was a major factor in our decision to choose Wärtsilä’s solution. We foresee that the upgrade kit will give our vessels even more competitive advantages. We wanted to have a reliable slow steaming solution in order to be attractive in the market and this gives us an advantage over other charterers,” adds Mr Herm Jüngerhans.
More info download attached file
|
Due to the ever rising fuel oil prices and emission reduction targets, owners and operators of 2-stroke low-speed engines have been looking for different ways to save on fuel expenses without having to compromise on engine reliability and emissions.
Main principles
