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Wärtsilä has announced that it has introduced a more powerful version for marine applications of its Wärtsilä 32 engine, which is said to be ideal for operation in emission-controlled areas.

First introduced in the 1980s, and with more than 4000 units sold to the marine industry alone, the Wärtsilä 32 engine has proven to be a popular solution for a wide range of vessel applications. The latest version is expected to expand that range even further.

The Wärtsilä 32 engine is a popular choice for both the marine and land-based power plants markets. In the marine industry the engine is used for both main engine and auxiliary engine applications. It is typically selected to power different types of tankers, container vessels, and offshore support and drilling vessels, while in the cruise and ferry sector, the Wärtsilä 32 is the most favoured engine of its size. In auxiliary electric production, the Wärtsilä 32 is widely utilized in all vessel categories where high auxiliary load is needed.

The new and upgraded version is available with an increased power output of 580 kW per cylinder at 750 RPM (50 Hz version). This represents a 15 percent increase in power output over the earlier 32 engine, despite having the same external dimensions. This increased output means that the Wärtsilä 32 now covers a power range from 3 MW to 9,3 MW. According to Wärtsilä, one area where this new power output is of particular interest is in the offshore drillship market.

"It is felt that in combination with Wärtsilä's Low Loss Concept, the new engine can offer a powerful yet compact package for diesel electric propulsion," Wärtsilä said.

The Wärtsilä 32 engine is said to be fully equipped with all essential ancillaries and have a thoroughly planned interface for the plant or ship's control system in order to ensure easy installation and reliable engine operation.

Wärtsilä says the engine is able to operate efficiently and economically on low sulphur fuels (<0.1% S), making it suitable for operation in emission-controlled areas. It can also be equipped with a SCR catalyst, such as the Wärtsilä NOR (nitrogen oxide reducer), which can reduce NOx emissions by as much as 95 percent. This means that the machinery is IMO Tier III compliant.

"The standard Wärtsilä 32 entirely fulfils IMO Tier II regulations. Regardless of the fuel used, the consumption efficiency is consistently excellent over a wide load range," Wärtsilä commented.

In announcing the introduction of this latest engine upgrade, Mr Juhani Hupli, Vice President, Ship Power Technology, Wärtsilä Ship Power commented: "The Wärtsilä 32 engine has been the preferred choice of yards, owners and operators for several decades already. However, in order to ensure that our leading position in propulsion technology is maintained and strengthened, Wärtsilä is constantly seeking to improve and further develop its engine portfolio. This on-going development work enables us to offer our customers around the world, the very latest solutions. These solutions enable them to meet the challenges posed by rising fuel and operating costs, and increasingly stringent environmental legislation."