Wärtsilä: Engine upgrades to improve CII on Ulusoy bulker duo

Finnish technology group Wärtsilä has been contracted to upgrade the main engines on two bulk carriers owned by Türkiye-based Ulusoy Sealines. The upgrade is expected to result in nearly 250 tons of annual fuel savings and a reduction of CO2 emissions by around 780 tons per year per vessel.

The planned upgrades and retrofits of Wärtsilä RT-flex main engines on Ulusoy Sealines’ bulkers will be carried out to extend the vessels’ operational life and improve both performance and fuel efficiency, thereby significantly reducing emissions, Wärtsilä stated.

As explained, the upgrade aims to align the engines’ performance with the latest operational profile of the two vessels, both of which have undergone substantial changes since their initial delivery in 2011.

The project will see the integration of Wärtsilä Part Load Optimisation (WPLO), Intelligence Combustion Control (ICC), and Fuel Actuated Sackless Technology (FAST), for an anticipated carbon intensity indicator (CII) improvement of 5%, equating to a two-year extension of the CII rating.

Additionally, Wärtsilä estimates annual fuel savings of nearly 250 tons with the upgrade, resulting in potential cost savings of more than $150,000 per