On August 9, China‑first DMD‑Wärtsilä 6RT‑flex58T‑D intelligent main engine was completed and delivered in the Assembly Area‑II workshop. This six‑cylinder main engine delivers a maximum output power of 12 240 kW (18 440 hp). Adopting an economic combustion mode, it features a mean effective pressure of 18.3 bar, a maximum firing pressure of 160 bar and a total weight of 322 tons, with classification by CCS.
The engine will be installed on a 93 000‑DWT bulk carrier built by Shanhaiguan Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd. for Hebei Ocean Shipping Group Co., Ltd. The RT‑flex58T‑D is an optimized variant developed on the basis of the original RT‑flex58T‑B main engine. Compared with the conventional RT‑flex58T‑B, the new RT‑flex58T‑D achieves lower fuel consumption, improved environmental performance, reduced costs and higher efficiency.
In terms of emissions, the new design complies with IMO Tier II emission standards and lays a foundation for achieving the higher‑level Tier III standard. For fuel‑oil consumption, thanks to the precise fuel‑injection timing function of the electronically controlled engine, different combustion modes can be applied under various operating conditions, which substantially reduces fuel consumption. Regarding lube‑oil consumption, the unit adopts CLU‑4 pulse‑type cylinder lubrication with timed cylinder‑oil injection, replacing the previous flood‑lubrication mode and bringing about a remarkable reduction in lube‑oil consumption.
Against the backdrop of a sluggish shipping industry and high oil prices, main engines with low fuel consumption are highly favoured by ship‑owners. The RT‑flex58T‑D is becoming a mainstream engine type in today’s shipbuilding market with promising market prospects.
As this is a newly‑released international engine model, ship‑owners and shipyards are relatively unfamiliar with it and lack operational experience. Consequently, they have concerns over engine installation, commissioning and operation, and put forward numerous additional requirements. To achieve customer satisfaction, our company carried out extensive targeted design modifications and order‑related adjustments, ultimately delivering satisfactory outcomes for both the ship‑owner and the shipyard.
To help the ship‑owner avoid losses caused by unfamiliarity during future voyage operations, several senior engineers were dispatched to give technical training sessions. They provided detailed explanations and analyses covering the general configuration, electrical wiring, piping connections, operation and installation of the RT‑flex58T‑D main engine. During acceptance and delivery, on‑site analysis of the engine’s control and operating status was performed, enabling the ship‑owner to gain comprehensive knowledge of this latest high‑tech main engine, build confidence and master the skills for safe and stable operation.
The successful completion and delivery of the 6RT‑flex58T‑D main engine serves as an excellent epitome of the company’s nearly ten‑year R&D and manufacturing history for RT‑flex58 series engines. From the successful acceptance and delivery of the world’s first 7RT‑flex58T‑B main engine in 2005 to the successful hand‑over of the first new‑type 6RT‑flex58T‑D main engine in 2011, it demonstrates that our company has consistently stayed at the forefront of global engine‑building technology and maintained a major market share in domestic manufacturing of RT‑flex58‑series main engines.