TRIESTE – Wärtsilä to launch ground-breaking 2-stroke future fuels conversion solution and joins forces with MSC for technology demonstration.
The development programme – named Two-Stroke Future Fuels Conversion Platform – has recently been concluded with successful initial engine tests in the Wärtsilä two-stroke engine laboratory in Trieste. MSC Shipmanagement has collaborated with Wärtsilä throughout the development as a key partner in the piloting and advancement of the platform towards future fuel applications. Representatives from MSC were in attendance during some of the testing procedures.
The technology group Wärtsilä will commercially launch its Two-Stroke Future Fuels Conversion platform during the first quarter of 2022. This innovative and patented engine combustion technology platform will enable two-stroke main engines’ fast and cost-effective conversion to operate on clean-burning future fuels. This is seen as a major step in the maritime industry’s efforts to achieve decarbonised shipping operations. At the same time, the retrofitting will avoid owners having to face long off-hire charter time.
The retrofit conversion will initially enable operation with currently available LNG fuel. The modular design of this concept provides a platform that will be further developed to adopt alternative green fuels or fuel blends when they become commercially available.
The conversion solution is aimed at vessels operating with a two-stroke, electronically controlled engines. The first commercial conversion project will be completed by mid-2023.
“Wärtsilä has taken a leading position in the development and delivery of smart technology solutions that will accelerate the realisation of our industry’s decarbonisation ambitions. This pioneering conversion solution is one more prime example of our capabilities and commitment. Its flexibility means that the first step towards adopting future fuels can be taken now, knowing that the investment will not become obsolete. The benefits, both economic and environmental, are significant,” says Roger Holm, President Marine Power & EVP Wärtsilä Corporation.
“We have been following the development of this innovative conversion solution with high interest, and we regard it as a supporting element in MSC’s journey towards net-zero decarbonisation by 2050. Together with Wärtsilä we have high expectations for the next steps of this initiative, which starts with technology demonstration on one of our larger container vessels with a Wärtsilä RT-flex96C-B main engine, and which will continue to make our existing fleet ready to meet future emissions needs,” says Prabhat Jha, CEO & Group Managing Director MSC Shipmanagement.