WinGD, a joint venture between Finnish marine engine builder Wärtsilä and China State Shipbuilding Corporation, has been chosen to provide the engine for the first in a series of 20,600 TEU container ships being built for the French container line CMA CGM.
The mega vessel will be powered by the Wärtsilä X92, low-speed, 2-stroke engine.
The Wärtsilä X92 engine chosen to power this huge vessel is the largest of Wärtsilä’s Generation X series of engines. It has a power range from 24,420 to 73,560 kW at 70 to 80 rpm.
CMA CGM recently placed an order for three of these giants at Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction (HHIC) in Subic Bay, Philippines.
“The Wärtsilä X92 engine has been designed to provide exceptional reliability, the lowest operating costs and minimal exhaust emissions, all of which are essential in today’s operating environment,” said Martin Wernli, CEO of WinGD.
”As container vessels are getting ever bigger in order to achieve economies of scale, it is essential that the engines and propulsion equipment are developed accordingly so as to achieve the efficiencies needed. Our successful 2-stroke Generation X engines are evidence of our proven competence and technological leadership and, as a result, we are playing an important role in the large and ultra large container vessel segment.”
WinGD took over Wärtsilä’s 2-stroke engine business in January 2015, and is owned 70 per cent by CSSC and 30 per cent by Wärtsilä.