Wärtsilä and MAN Diesel to initiate Hercules-B

The two world?s leading European marine engine manufacturer companies, MAN Diesel and Wärtsilä Corporation have agreed to set up a large-scale cooperative research project codenamed HERCULES-B. This large innovative research and development project has as its objective the development of a 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 principal aim of 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. 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 60 million Euros. 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.