JULY 4, 2013 — Another Wärtsilä two-stroke engine has successfully passed its Type Approval Test (TAT). The RT-flex58T version D ER-3 is a further optimized version of the Wärtsilä RT-flex58T version D engine with reduced power and greater fuel economy to meet the operating demands of Panamax bulk carriers.

In passing the TAT milestone, the engine is verified as having fulfilled all classification society requirements.

The engine was assembled and tested in Aioi, Japan, at Wärtsilä's licensee Diesel United, Ltd. (DU). The first orders for these engines have been received and, following the successful TAT, the engines will be installed in an innovative new Panamax bulk carrier being built at the Japan Marine United (JMU) shipyard for an Italian owner.

"Firstly, I wish to express special thanks to the staff at Diesel United for their very professional work in preparing this new engine version. Also, thanks are due to the JMU yard. Diesel United and JMU have co-operated closely and delivered substantial input to optimize this engine for meeting specific performance parameters, thereby increasing efficiency and lowering fuel costs," says Mr Martin Wernli, Vice President, Wärtsilä Ship Power, two-stroke.

The Wärtsilä RT-flex58T version D ER-3 engine is a 2-stroke, common-rail engine with a high stroke to bore ratio. While retaining the well proven and reliable design concept of the earlier RT-flex58T version D engine, the reduced bore diameter allows more de-rating without negative effects on operational reliability. The new engine version offers the lowest possible rpm for lower powered vessels and is the right fit for new economical Panamax bulk carrier designs cutting the consumption compared to standard designs by up to 20 per cent.

With a maximum continuous rated (MCR) power of 12,210 kW, the six-cylinder RT-flex58T version D ER-3 fits neatly between the power range of the five- and six-cylinder RT-flex58T version D engines while offering the additional benefits of an extended rating field and lower absolute speed and fuel consumption.

There's a link to the technical specifications HERE