Wärtsilä Upgrades Engines for Ulusoy Sealines
Wärtsilä has unveiled plans to retrofit the RT-flex main engines on two bulk carriers owned by Turkish shipping company Ulusoy Sealines. This initiative aims to enhance the vessels’ performance, extend their operational lifespan, and improve fuel efficiency, ultimately reducing emissions. The upgrade orders were placed in late 2024 and early 2025, with component deliveries expected in the first half of this year.
Engine Enhancements for Improved Efficiency
The upcoming modifications will align the engines’ performance with the updated operational profiles of the ULUSOY 11 and ULUSOY 12 vessels, which have undergone significant changes since their launch in 2011. The upgrade will incorporate Wärtsilä’s advanced technologies, including Part Load Optimisation (WPLO), Intelligence Combustion Control (ICC), and Fuel Actuated Sackless Technology (FAST). These enhancements are designed to boost energy efficiency across the merchant fleet, in line with current regulations such as the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII).
According to Capt. A. Akin, the OZCOREKCI/DPA–OPR manager at Ulusoy Sealines, the company is committed to operating its fleet in an environmentally friendly and efficient manner. He emphasized the importance of these engine upgrades in providing added value to customers by integrating state-of-the-art technology with existing assets. The upgrades are projected to improve the vessels’ CII by 5%, effectively extending their CII rating by two years.
Significant Cost and Emission Reductions
The retrofitting project is expected to yield substantial benefits, including annual fuel savings of approximately 250 tons, which could translate to cost reductions exceeding $150,000 each year. Additionally, the upgrades are anticipated to decrease CO2 emissions by around 780 tons annually per vessel.
Peter Knaapen, Wärtsilä Marine’s director of two-stroke and other OEM services, noted that the engine upgrades will involve integrating a mix of established and newly developed solutions. These will be meticulously tailored to achieve maximum operational improvements and savings based on each vessel’s specific operational profile.
In a related development, Wärtsilä ANCS recently completed the pilot installation of its NACOS Connect remote mimics application aboard the Sun Princess, the latest flagship vessel of Princess Cruises, showcasing the company’s commitment to innovation in maritime technology.
