Wärtsilä launches new multi-fuel maritime engine

First Wärtsilä engine to run on ammonia

The medium-speed, 4-stroke, Wärtsilä 25 engine was launched this month, and is currently able to run on diesel or LNG. In 2023, a technology upgrade will be commercially available that allows the Wärtsilä 25 to run on gaseous or liquid alternative fuels like ammonia. A NOx abatement system is already available to integrate with the engine when running on diesel fuel, making engine operations fully compliant with IMO Tier III rules on NOx emissions.

This engine marks the beginning of a new era of future-proof medium speed, small-bore engines, and comes as an important step towards the maritime industry meeting its decarbonisation goals. The Wärtsilä 25 ticks all the boxes. It is a small but powerful engine, and it provides an effortless transition to future fuels, making it a future-proof investment already today.

Wärtsilä Corporation President (Marine Power) & Executive Vice President Roger Holm in his organisation’s official press release, 7 Sept 2022

MAN ES sets out development timeline

At our recent Australia conference, we heard from MAN ES Director of New Technology Kjeld Aabo, who took us through the most recent development timeline for MAN’s two-stroke, ammonia-fueled engines. Full-scale testing at MAN’s Copenhagen research facility is due next year, with engine design and exhaust after-treatment systems to be confirmed by the end of this year. In 2024, the first ammonia-fueled engine will be delivered to the yard and be commercially available to purchase.