Technology group Wärtsilä is to supply three Wärtsilä 25DF dual-fuel engines for a new 18,600 cu m capacity LNG bunkering vessel being built for Spanish operator, Ibaizabal.
The engines will feature Wärtsilä’s NextDF technology, which is claimed to dramatically reduce methane emissions when operating with LNG fuel.
The LNGBV is under construction at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding yard in China.
The Wärtsilä 25DF engine has already set an industry benchmark for low methane emissions, down to as low as 1.4% at certain load points.
NextDF further reduces methane emissions, achieving as low as 1.1% in a wide load range. In addition, the NOx emissions are lower than on the standard Wärtsilä 25DF engine, which already has low emission levels below IMO Tier III.
“Our company strategy and commitment is for our vessels to be as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible.
“In line with current and anticipated regulations – both at an international and regional level – we carefully evaluated the fuel consumption and emission performance together with Wärtsilä, concluding that the Wärtsilä 25DF engine with the NextDF feature would best support us with achieving our sustainability goals,” Jose Maria Torre, Ibaizabal Group Fleet Director, explained.
“Wärtsilä’s state-of-art technology not only represents a major step forward in achieving our own de-carbonisation strategy for our fleet, but for the charterer of the vessel. The decision by them to charter this vessel was down to it having the best performance and lowest emissions for that type of vessel,” he said.
In addition to the engines, the contract also includes the supply of two Wärtsilä steerable thrusters (WST), which will deliver superior hydrodynamic performance for maximum propulsion efficiency and dynamic positioning capability.
“The incorporation of our NextDF feature into the Wärtsilä 25DF engine provides enhanced fuel economy together with a significant cut in emissions.
“We share Ibaizabal’s commitment to de-carbonising shipping operations and applaud them for being the first operator to take advantage of this new groundbreaking technology for the Wärtsilä 25DF engine,” said Stefan Nysjö, Vice President of Power Supply, Wärtsilä Marine.
The equipment is scheduled for fast-track delivery to the yard, commencing in September, this year with the ship scheduled to be delivered before the end of 2026.
