Wärtsilä adds NextDF to 46TS

Designed to operate on LNG, the upgraded engine now cuts methane emissions to less than 1.4% of fuel use at all load points, reaching as low as 1.1% across a wide operating range. This is nearly three times lower than the 3.1% standard set by the FuelEU Maritime and IMO Lifecycle Guidelines for similar engine types.

“NextDF technology reduces the environmental impact of vessels that use LNG as fuel, without compromising on performance or operational stability,” said Stefan Nysjö, Vice President of Power Supply, Wärtsilä Marine.

“By making our NextDF technology available for the Wärtsilä 46TS-DF engine we enable operators to go even further in lowering greenhouse gas emissions and harmful local pollutants.”

Wärtsilä says the reduction is achieved through enhancements in combustion control and optimised engine performance, which also decrease NOx and CO₂ emissions. As LNG plays a crucial role in the maritime industry’s transition to cleaner fuels, cutting methane slip is vital to reducing greenhouse gas output.

Read more: The Motorship talks to Juha Kytölä, director of R&D and engineering at Wärtsilä

The Wärtsilä 46TS-DF, launched in 2022, features two-stage turbocharging and can be retrofitted for future sustainable fuels. Its first NextDF-equipped installation will power MSC World Asia, a cruise ship under construction at Chantiers de l’Atlantique for MSC Cruises.

The development is part of the EU-supported GREEN RAY project. Wärtsilä previously added NextDF to its 31DF and 25DF engines in 2023 and 2024.