Wärtsilä has unveiled a new high-speed engine for tugs, workboats, ferries and offshore vessels that have limited engineroom space. Wärtsilä 14 is a series of compact engines that can be used for both main propulsion and auxiliary generator sets. Wärtsilä said this engine series would be ideal for hybrid installations.
Wärtsilä 14 was officially unveiled at the International Workboat Show in New Orleans, in the US, on 28 November. It is part of the company’s Smart Marine portfolio and provides vessel operators with options for meeting specific operational needs in different maritime and offshore sectors.
These high-speed engines are available in 12- and 16-cylinder configurations. They can deliver power output within the range of 755-1,340 kW in mechanical propulsion. Wärtsilä 14 can also provide electrical power in the range of 675-1,155 kW in auxiliary and diesel-electric configurations. It has a 135-mm bore and 157-mm stroke.
Wärtsilä expects demand for this series of engines for tugboats, fishing vessels, small ferries, offshore service vessels and the merchant auxiliary market. This is particularly where power-to-weight ratio, fuel-type, efficiency, safety and environmental compliance are key considerations.
It was developed in close co-operation with mechanical and crane group Liebherr and first deliveries are scheduled for Q4 2019.
These engines and gensets could be used in the next generation of hybrid tugs. For example, two Wärtsilä 14 engines, along with a hybrid propulsion solution, have been incorporated in Wärtsilä’s HYTug 40 design concept. This is a smaller version of the HYTug harbour tug design introduced in 2017 and has been included in new hybrid tug construction projects.
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