Thousandth RT-flex engine order

The milestone was passed with an order for a seven-cylinder RT-flex82T version B main engine, for a VLCC newbuilding for JX Tanker Company of Japan, at IHI Marine United in Kure shipyard. The ship is scheduled for delivery in 2014, and the engine is being manufactured by Japanese licensee Diesel United.

Wärtsilä says that the recently upgraded RT-flex82T version B engine is based on the popular RT-flex82T, which has accumulated more than 100 reference installations, being targeted at VLCC tankships that need an efficient, simple, reliable and safe machinery solution. The high stroke-to-bore ratio and common-rail system offer high performance with flexibility of engine tuning possibilities, enabling low fuel oil consumption in all operational conditions.

The first RT-flex entered service in 2001, and the company believes that orders for 1,000 engines in 11 years, despite the post 2008 slump in the shipping sector, indicate it is the preferred choice for electronically controlled engines, which now are the most popular machinery option for merchant ships.

“This latest order is significant for Wärtsilä for two reasons; it takes us past the 1000th order milestone for electronically controlled engines with good environmental performance, and is also the first order for the upgraded RT-flex82T version B engine for a next generation eco type of VLCC. For both reasons, we are extremely proud and happy,” says Martin Wernli, president, Wärtsilä Switzerland and vice president, Wärtsilä Ship Power, two-stroke.