Wärtsilä-Developed Engine Undergoes Test Program

The first electronically-controlled low-speed marine diesel engine built in Japan is currently completing its test program. This is a Sulzer 6RT-flex58T-B engine built under license from Wärtsilä Corporation by Diesel United Ltd at the Aioi works. The engine will be installed as the main engine in a 105,000 tdw Aframax crude oil tanker contracted at Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd by Scinicariello Augustea Ship Management SpA. The Sulzer 6RT-flex58T-B has a maximum continuous power output of 12,750 kW (17,340 bhp) at 105 rev/min. The ship is due for delivery at the end of August 2003. The engine has already finished various confirmation tests in the Aioi works and today was demonstrated to a large group of guests. The guests were mainly from Japan and included shipowners, ship operators and shipbuilders, together with representatives from classification societies and other interested organizations. Developed by Wärtsilä Corporation, Sulzer RT-flex engines are the first low-speed engines to have electronically-controlled common-rail systems for fuel injection and valve actuation. This gives unrivalled flexibility in the way the engines operate, to deliver benefits such as smokeless operation at all operating speeds, lower fuel consumption, reduced maintenance costs and lower steady operating speeds for better manuevering. Series production of Sulzer RT-flex electronically-controlled engines has been underway for more than two years. The first engine, also a Sulzer 6RT-flex58T-B, passed its official shop test in January 2001 and has been in service in the bulk carrier 'Gypsum Centennial' since September 2001 with excellent results.

There are now 13 Sulzer RT-flex engines in service, completed or on order with a combined power of 209,590 kW (285,070 bhp). They include nine Sulzer RT-flex60C engines and two other Sulzer RT-flex58T-B engines in addition to the two engines mentioned above. Four of these engines have already completed their shop tests in Italy, Korea and now Japan, and are being installed in ships due for delivery in the coming months.