Viken Shipping in Norway has ordered a 6S70ME-C engine thus confirming the market interest for the electronically controlled engine design from MAN B&W Diesel A/S.
The engine has been ordered by one of Norway's important shipowners, Viken Shipping, in Bergen for a highly specified Suezmax "shuttle light" tanker with upgraded specification. The vessel will be delivered from Samsung in Korea in November 2003 and will enter a long-term charter for Navion in the North Sea. Four more ships, two more Suezmax and two Aframax, are being negotiated with the yard for this owner, and they, too, are planned to have ME-C engines. For the Aframax the 6S60ME-C is foreseen.
The 6S70ME-C engine has an output of 18,660 kW at 91 r/min. It has all the usual features of the ME engines, notably:
- Variable electronically-controlled timing of fuel injection and exhaust valves for lower specific fuel consumption and better performance parameters
- Lower rpm possible for manoeuvring
- Better astern and crash stop performance
- Improved emissions characteristics, such as lower NOx and smoke values at any load
- Equalized thermal load in and between cylinders minimizing the risk of premature need for overhaul
- System incorporating performance monitoring to promote longer times between overhauls.
The reasons Viken Shipping has chosen the ME engine for their newbuildings are particularly the low rpm capability giving improved manoeuvring possibilities and for the excellent running economy.