Wärtsilä Gearbox Could Reduce Fuel Use 15 Percent

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Thursday December 5, 2013

Wärtsilä Corp. (Wärtsilä) has launched a two-speed marine gearbox that could reduce fuel consumption and emissions by as much as 15 percent for vessels that operate at a variety of speeds, the company said in an emailed press release.

The company says the gearbox, aimed at markets including RoPax ferries, offshore support vessels (OSVs), tug boats, and fishing vessels, reduced fuel use by 8 percent in sea trials and should be able to achieve additional reductions.

"This new propulsion solution is based on Wärtsilä's proven gearbox technology and systems engineering," said Arto Lehtinen, vice president for propulsion of Wärtsilä Ship Power.

"It offers considerable fuel cost savings, increased environmental sustainability, efficient utilisation of the main engine, a high degree of redundancy, retention of 100 per cent engine power at reduced propeller speeds, advanced functionality with low technical complexity, and much more."

The gearbox achieves savings by running a ship's propeller at low speeds when maximum propulsion is not needed while still keeping the engine speed constant to allow for uninterrupted electric power generation.

The technology also reduces noise pollution, supporting passenger and crew comfort as well as marine life.

A rescue vessel owned by China's Ministry of Transport is the first ship to use the new gearbox, and sea trials were carried out at the Huangpu shipyard in China.

Wärtsilä has said it expects its sales in the offshore sector to remain strong.

Ship & Bunker News Team
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