German owner, NVA, orders 2 + 2 electronically controlled 12K98ME-C engines to power 8,400 TEU containerships.

NVA has placed an order for four 12K98ME-C engines, delivering an output of 68,510 kW (93,120 bhp), to power their latest large containerships.

Each engine, to be built by HSD in Korea, will be destined to power an 8,400 TEU containership, which are 335 m long and 42.8 m wide. The ships are to be built at Daewoo in Korea. Furthermore, the ships will be equipped with MAN B&W Holeby GenSets, type 7L32/40.

The ME engine concept, with its fully integrated electronic control, is a concept which offers lower operating costs, improved emission characteristics and a very high degree of flexibility related to various operating modes and optimisation of part load characteristics, in particular.

The main purpose, therefore, of changing to electronic control is to achieve optimal fuel injection timing and rate, as well as ensuring the exhaust valve timing and operation exactly when and as desired. The traditional simplicity and safety is retained.

Especially with regard to the fuel injection rate, the electronic control systems have been designed so that it is possible to generate proper rate shaping while maintaining higher injection pressures (and thus, better combustion of the fuel) in low load conditions, without producing a too high pressure at higher loads. The high fuel pressure is – for safety reasons – operated only when needed.

For the ME engines, the electronic control system has been made complete. Hence, the ME engine range features fully integrated control of all functions such as the governor, start and reversing, fuel, exhaust and starting valves, as well as cylinder oil feeding.

The first ME engine was proved during extended operational trials on the M/T Bow Cecil (Odfjell, Norway). This ship has now completed over 13,000 operational hours without any problems.

The published orders for ME engines now comprise 25, with the cylinder bores from 50 to 98 cm represented.