Four KOTC VLCCs to get Wärtsilä Fuel Efficiency Boost

Written by Nick Blenkey

M/T Al Funtas is one of four KOTC very large crude carriers (VLCCs) to be retrofitted with the Wärtsilä Fuel Efficiency Boost. [Image copyright: KOTC]

Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC), a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Company (KPC), has contracted Wärtsilä to upgrade the performance of four of its VLCCS.

The vessels’ main engines will be retrofitted with the Wärtsilä Fuel Efficiency Boost solution. The modification will reduce fuel consumption, and correspondingly lessen the environmental impact by lowering greenhouse gas emission levels.

The Wärtsilä solution is based on two-stroke engine optimization technology for selected Wärtsilä RT-flex and earlier deliveries of X-type two-stroke engines. The four KOTC very large crude carriers (VLCCs) to be retrofitted operate with 7-cylinder Wärtsilä RT-flex82T two-stroke main engines. The retrofitting of the vessels with the Wärtsilä Fuel Efficiency Boost will take place over the coming six months.

“Our smart marine approach is dedicated towards raising efficiencies and improving the environmental sustainability of marine operations,” says Riad Belaid, Area Sales GM, Middle East & Asia, Two-stroke & Specialised Services, Wärtsilä Marine Business. “The Wärtsilä Fuel Efficiency Boost is completely aligned with this philosophy, while at the same time lowering operating costs.” .

“By modifying the main engines of these carriers, we are assured of operating with the latest technology and having the best operational efficiency. We know and trust Wärtsilä’s high quality products and systems, and we appreciate the excellent support they offer,” says KOTC’s Acting CEO, Mr. Ali Shehab.

The Wärtsilä Fuel Efficiency Boost is a well-balanced combination of an increased compression ratio and modified injector nozzles. Together with optimized engine tuning parameters, it allows fuel savings of up to 4%. The pilot installation showed around 10~12 tons per day lower fuel consumption than a sister vessel operating the same route, and resulted in 1195 tons of fuel savings over the 9 months pilot period.

In 2019, Wärtsilä successfully installed the company’s Intelligent Combustion Control and Fuel Activated Sacless Technology (FAST) upgrades on the same four vessels.