First Wärtsilä engine successfully passes shop test at newly built factory of Rong’An in ChinaWärtsilä Corporation, a ceremony is being held to celebrate the first engine shop test at the newly built two-stroke engine factory of Hefei Rong’An Power Machinery Co Ltd (RPM), a member of the Jiangsu Rongsheng Heavy Industries Group Co Ltd (RSHI). The first engine is a 6-cylinder low-speed Wärtsilä RT-flex68-D engine with a maximum continuous power of 18’780 kW.
The engine was ordered last year, and will be used to power a 2804 TEU container vessel being built at a Brazilian shipyard for Log-In Logistica Intermodal S.A. of Brazil. Wärtsilä will provide the complete power solution for the vessel, including the auxiliary engines and controllable pitch propellers. It is due to be launched in the first quarter 2010.
RSHI and Wärtsilä signed a licence agreement in March 2008. It grants RSHI the right to produce and sell all types of Wärtsilä’s most advanced low-speed engines up to 96 cm bore. The engines are being produced at Hefei Rong’An Power Machinery Co Ltd’s new, purpose-built factory in Hefei, Anhui, China. This first engine is being delivered exactly according to the schedule outlined in the agreement.
Modern engines for an expanding market
In expanding production of its latest engines to be manufactured under licence in China, Wärtsilä recognised the growing importance of Asian shipyards in the world’s market. The RT-flex common-rail technology developed by Wärtsilä brings direct benefits to ship owners and operators in terms of greater flexibility in engine setting for lower fuel consumption, lower minimum running speeds, smokeless operation at all running speeds, and better control of the exhaust emissions. In addition to being well suited to the needs for cost-efficiency, the RT-flex common-rail technology will also play a key role in meeting tighter emissions control requirements under the forthcoming IMO regulations.
Congratulating RPM on the delivery of its first Wärtsilä engine, Martin Wernli, President of Wärtsilä in Switzerland, says: “This is just the first of what we expect to be a regular delivery of Wärtsilä engines from RPM’s new engine factory. Wärtsilä and RPM have been closely co-operating throughout the factory planning and construction process. The engine is being delivered in record time and according to our high quality standards. We congratulate the entire team for its excellent work and look forward to continuing this fruitful partnership for many years to come.”
As announced earlier, RPM will also produce the 7-cylinder Wärtsilä RT-flex82T low-speed engines for 12 of the world’s largest ore-carriers. The vessels were ordered last year by a Brazilian owner, and are being built by Rongsheng Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries, a member of the RSHI group. The vessels will each have a capacity of 400,000 dwt, and will be the largest dry bulk cargo carriers ever built. The Wärtsilä engines driving them will have a continuous power of 29,400 kW at 76 rpm. The first of the ships is due for delivery in 2011, and all twelve are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012.
Wärtsilä in brief:
Wärtsilä is a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total efficiency, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2008, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 4.6 billion with 19,000 employees. The company has operations in 160 locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland. www.wartsila.com
