A record year for MAN B&W Augsburg

The Augsburg marine engine division of the MAN B&W Diesel Group was able to secure the largest order volume in the company?s history in its centenary year 2003. The company received orders for medium-speed large-bore Diesel engines with a total output of 680,000 kW, which are to be produced in the Augsburg works. Sixty percent of these marine engines are intended for Asian shipyards in China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam and twenty-five percent for German shipyards.

This represents the largest order intake for the Augsburg parent company since 1903 when the first vessels were provided with diesel engine propulsion. During the previous record year, 1938, marine engines with a total output of 635,000 kW were ordered.

The total of 76 engines ordered in 2003 will be produced for container ships, ferries, chemical tankers, cruise vessels, bulk carriers, tugs, Ro-Ro and FPSO vessels for delivery during 2004 and 2005.

Strongly increasing freight rates and low marine engineering prices resulted in an order boom for new merchant vessels, especially in Asia. During the last few years, the MAN B&W Diesel Group strategically expanded its network of international branches and was able to benefit from its market experience. Shipyards and shipping companies ordered, above all, engines for the successful 48/60 and 58/64 MAN B&W medium-speed series for vessel propulsion. The Group now maintains a share of over sixty percent in the medium-speed four-stroke propulsion engine market.