Wärtsilä 20 marine engine
Wärtsilä 20 marine engine

Flexibility and reliability for a wide range of vessel applications

Get the facts: open the brochure

Wärtsilä 20 marine engines for a wide range of ships

Wärtsilä 20 is a compact, lightweight marine engine. It offers fuel flexibility and reliable performance in genset and main engine applications. It is available in diesel and dual-fuel versions, and the dual-fuel version will switch between different fuels during operation smoothly, without power interruption.

Who is it for?

Wärtsilä 20 offers outstanding flexibility, which makes it a great choice for generating sets in larger vessels and as a main engine for both mechanical and electric propulsion. The dual-fuel version is a great choice for many vessel types, including hybrid installations.

Ideal applications for the Wärtsilä 20 engine include:

  • car carriers (PCTC)
  • merchant vessels
  • small cargo vessels
  • ferries
  • tugboats.

Wärtsilä 20 – proven in use

The Wärtsilä 20 has proven its robustness and reliability with over 7500 engines delivered since its introduction to the market in the early 1990s. The engine can switch from MDO to HFO and vice versa without power interruption at any engine operation load.

The engine is available in cylinder configurations 4L, 6L, 8L, 9L with the power output ranging between 740 and 1980 kW at 900, 1000 and 1200 rpm.

Tug boat pulls a container vessel

Wärtsilä 20DF – small dual fuel engine

The Wärtsilä 20DF is based on the well proven and reliable Wärtsilä 20 diesel engine introduced in the early 1990s. Because of its fuel flexibility, the Wärtsilä 20DF can be optimized for constant speed generating sets, as well as variable speed mechanical drives, for main engine applications.

The engine is available in cylinder configurations 6L, 8L, 9L with the power output ranging between 870 and 1755 kW at 900, 1000 and 1200 rpm.

3D rendering Wärtsilä 20 marine engine

Key benefits of the Wärtsilä 20 engine

  • Excellent fuel flexibility – capable of running on a variety of fuels (including diesel and LNG) and switching seamlessly between them.
  • Low fuel oil consumption over a wide load range.
  • Optimised power-to-weight and power-to-space ratios plus flexible engine support arrangements for a wide range of vessel applications.
  • Proven and reliable with over 6,000 engines delivered.
  • Long overhaul intervals.
  • Low exhaust gas emissions
  • Low gas feed pressure (DF)

Wärtsilä 20 and Wärtsilä 20DF product guides, 3D models and drawings

Get technical data and system proposals for designing marine engine installations with the Wärtsilä 20 and Wärtsilä 20DF.

Fuel flexibility and emission reduction

The Wärtsilä 20 can operate on conventional liquid marine fuels (LFO, HFO or liquid biofuels) or LNG. Fuel switching takes place without loss of power or speed.

For vessel operators, a fuel-flexible engine means that it is possible to comply with the ever-tightening emission regulations. At the same time, operators will have the option to choose fuel according to cost and availability.

Adopting LNG as fuel can help you reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly. To maximise the environmental benefits of LNG, it is important to minimise methane slip – the unburned methane that escapes into the atmosphere when LNG is burned as fuel.

Wärtsilä 20DF is a great choice because it cuts methane slip in two ways. Its combustion chambers are designed to reduce methane slip, and its combustion controls have been optimised.

Customer stories

Discover the benefits that others have gained from choosing Wärtsilä 20 marine engines.

  • a night-time image of a car carrier vessel
    Santoku Shipping

    Wärtsilä 20 dual-fuel engines enable Santoku Shipping to operate on LNG to cut CO2 and SOx emissions on its six new pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) vessels.

    Wärtsilä 20DF engines help to reduce SOx and CO2 emissions
  • Orion reference
    Offshore construction vessel Orion

    The world’s first LNG fuelled offshore construction vessel being built for DEME will be powered by Wärtsilä.

    Read more about the solutions
  • Viking Supply

    Hybrid upgrade for Viking Supply Ships sharpens competitive edge of LNG-powered PSVs

    Discover the hybrid upgrade solution
  • LNG vessel for Knutsen OAS Shipping reference
    LNG vessel for Knutsen OAS Shipping

    The latest development of the LNG infrastructure provides clear evidence of the increasing importance of LNG fuel to the marine industry. Wärtsilä has a lot of experience and know-how throughout the LNG value chain, and we are confident that their solutions are what we need for this latest expansion to our fleet.

    Discover the Wärtsilä equipment package

Case MS Helgoland

The MS Helgoland ferry entered a new era of dual-fuel operations with the complete Wärtsilä LNG propulsion solution, featuring two Wärtsilä 20 engines. Watch the video to learn how they adopted a new fuel.

Hand-picked press releases

Wärtsilä to deliver power and electrical solutions for Australian RoRo newbuild

Mar 9, 2022, 10:30 by Wärtsilä Corporation

The technology group Wärtsilä will supply main and auxiliary engines, fuel storage tanks, gas handling equipment and electrical systems for a new RoRo being built for Australian operator SeaRoad Shipping. The orders with Wärtsilä were placed in Q1 2022.

The 210 metre-long vessel is under construction at the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) shipyard in Germany. The vessel will operate primarily on LNG fuel. Wärtsilä’s depth of experience and in-house know-how on LNG systems was a major consideration in the award of the contract.

The vessel will be powered by two Wärtsilä 46DF dual-fuel main engines and three Wärtsilä 20DF dual-fuel auxiliary engines. The Fuel Gas Handling System and LNG tanks are designed with the Gas Valve Units (GVUs) integrated into the tank connection space. This solution is unique to Wärtsilä and reduces the amount of piping needed, facilitating easier installation.

Wärtsilä will deliver almost every electrical system on board. This includes bridge consoles with integrated navigation, redundant dual-gyro compass systems, nautical sensors, external communication systems, power take-in and take-out (PTI/PTO) shaft alternators with multi-drive technology, monitoring and control systems, switchboards, internal communication, and safety systems as well as lighting.

Wärtsilä will design and integrate the entire electrical package, as well as delivering the cable network. The integration project continues a successful partnership between FSG and Wärtsilä in this area lasting more than 25 years.

“We recognise Wärtsilä’s strong capabilities in LNG-related technologies, as well as their capabilities in electrical systems, and these solutions are an excellent fit for this vessel,” says Philip Maracke, CEO, FSG. “We thank Wärtsilä for its excellent support and cooperation during the various phases of this project.”

Matthias Becker, General Manager Sales, Wärtsilä Marine Power, says, “We have enjoyed a very positive relationship with both the yard and the owners throughout this project. SeaRoad is committed to sustainable practices, and this very much aligns with our own commitment to the decarbonisation of shipping operations. The solutions selected for this vessel promote these ambitions.”

Electrical installation will commence in this year, whilst the bulk of Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for delivery to the yard during the first half of 2023; the ship is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. The vessel will have 3,987 lane metres for various freight units and will sail on Bass Strait, between Melbourne, Victoria and Devonport on the Australian island state of Tasmania.

Media contact for more information on this release:

Gavin Lipsith
Communications Manager, Positioning
Wärtsilä Marine Power
Tel: +44 788 473 7177
gavin.lipsith@wartsila.com

Image caption: Wärtsilä will deliver LNG fuel equipment and electrical systems for a new RoRo being built for Australian operator SeaRoad Shipping © Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft

All Wärtsilä releases are available at https://www.wartsila.com/media/news-releases and at http://news.cision.com/wartsila-corporation where also the images can be downloaded.

Wärtsilä Marine Power in brief
Wärtsilä Marine Power leads the industry in its journey towards a decarbonised and sustainable future. Our broad portfolio of engines, propulsion systems, hybrid technology, and integrated powertrain systems delivers the efficiency, reliability, safety, and environmental performance needed to support our customers. Our offering includes performance-based agreements, lifecycle solutions, and an unrivalled global network of maritime expertise.
www.wartsila.com/marine

Wärtsilä in brief:
Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasise innovation in sustainable technology and services to help our customers continuously improve their environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 17,000 professionals in more than 200 locations in 68 countries shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. In 2021, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 4.8 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
www.wartsila.com

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