Wärtsilä and MAN Diesel Propose Cooperative Research Project

MAN Diesel and Wärtsilä Corporation have agreed to propose a large scale Cooperative Research Project - Hercules-B. The target is to maximize fuel efficiency in parallel to emissions reduction. The principal aim in Hercules-B is to improve efficiency of marine diesel propulsion systems to level of more than 60%, hence to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions substantially. An additional concurrent aim is towards ultra low exhaust emissions from marine engines by the year 2015. Today diesel propulsion systems power 99% of the world fleet.

The Hercules-B is a large innovative research and development project aiming for technological breakthrough in the reduction of fuel consumption and emissions for the next generation marine diesel engines onboard ships, reaching beyond today's limits set by the IMO and radically improving the environmental effect of Waterborne Transport.

The project will deliver a number of Technology Demonstrator engines, operating with improved efficiency and reduced emissions. Certain new technologies developed, will be validated onboard new-built ships. The Hercules-B Project is planned to run over a four-year period with a targeted budget of $76.4m. The Project is expected to be fully agreed in 2007 to be subsequently proposed for funding within the Framework Program 7 (FP7, Theme Transport), of the European Commission.