Wärtsilä launches new engine at Nor-Shipping

In the offshore sector, the Wärtsilä 31 is ideally suited for AHTSs, OSVs, drilling and semi-submersible vessels, which require operational flexibility, high power density, long intervals between overhauls, and high levels of safety. Similarly, in the cruise and ferry sector, the Wärtsilä 31 enables owners and operators to trim fuel expenses while maintaining high standards in environmental performance, the Finnish company said. Within the merchant fleet, the Wärtsilä 31 is designed for applications as a main engine for small- to medium-sized tankers, bulk carriers and container vessels.  
The engine comes in three versions: diesel, dual-fuel and spark-ignited gas.  The multi-fuel capabilities extend the possibilities for operators to utilise different qualities of fuels, from very light to very heavy diesel, and a range of different qualities of gas, Wärtsilä noted. 
The engine features latest developments in fuel injection systems, engine control systems, and charge air technologies. It is available for applications in mechanical drive installations, for producing electricity when coupled with a generator, for hybrid installations as well as heavy duty installations or as an auxiliary engine.
Prior to the official launch at Nor-Shipping, the Wärtsilä 31 engine achieved a Guinness World Records title for the most efficient four-stroke diesel engine. The listing is based on the Wärtsilä 31 engine's highest fuel efficiency levels, with its diesel fuel consumption being as low as 165 g/kWh. This is far lower than any other four-stroke diesel engine currently available on the market, the committee said.
 
"The marine industry is focusing more than ever on efficiency and flexibility. The validation of the Wärtsilä 31 by Guinness World Records as being the most efficient four-stroke diesel engine in the world speaks for itself. Shipowners and operators now have the chance to take a more efficient approach to improving vessel operations and reducing costs.  The Wärtsilä 31 clearly redefines efficiency," said Roger Holm, senior vice president of engines at Wärtsilä Ship Power.