Wärtsilä powers worlds largest ore carriers

Wärtsilä engines will power the world’s largest ore carriers, 12 of which have been contracted by a Brazilian shipowner. This is the biggest order for Wärtsilä RT-flex82T low-speed engines, which is one of four new engine types introduced by Wartsila, all of 820 mm cylinder bore. It combines the benefits of both the electronically-controlled RT-flex common-rail system and up-to-date parameters to deliver optimum propulsion plants for ships.

The 400,000 dwt ore carriers will be built by Rongsheng Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries of China. Each vessel will have a 7-cylinder Wärtsilä RT-flex82T low-speed engine with a contracted maximum continuous power of 29,400 kW at 76 rpm. The first of the ships is due for delivery in early 2011 and the twelve ships are expected to be completed in 2012.

The twelve engines will be built by Hefei RongAn Power Machinery Co Ltd (RPM) of Hefei, Anhui, China under licence from Wärtsilä. Both Rongsheng Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries and Hefei RongAn Power Machinery Co Ltd are members of Jiangsu Rongsheng Heavy Industries Group Co Ltd (RSHI). The licence agreement between Wärtsilä and RSHI for the manufacture of Wärtsilä low-speed engines was announced in March this year.