Wartsila donates engine to Texas A&M Maritime Academy

The 8-cylinder Wärtsilä 20 diesel engine donated to Texas A&M Galveston is housed in an engineering lab on the University campus.

MAY 27, 2016 — Wärtsilä has donated an 8-cylinder Wärtsilä 20 engine and generating set, to the Marine Engineering Technology Department at Texas A&M University at Galveston.

The donation is a continuation of Wärtsilä’s ongoing industry support program aimed at helping future maritime sector leaders to acquire detailed understanding of marine technologies.

The donation includes specialty tools and will provide students with valuable hands-on experience for expanding their knowledge of engine repairs, emissions and fuel economy.

In addition to the equipment, Wärtsilä will also offer engine training to the Texas A&M Galveston engineering professors through the Wärtsilä Land and Sea Academy based in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

“Wärtsilä is a future oriented company. We not only develop technologies that move the industry forward, but are pleased to enhance the training of maritime specialists, naval architects, and marine engineers,” says Aaron Bresnahan, Managing Director, Wärtsilä North America, Inc. “We are proud to invest in the future of the U.S. maritime industry by donating this engine to Texas A&M Galveston

“This is a valuable learning and research tool for our students,” says Ed Clancy, Professor of Marine Engineering and head of the Marine Engineering Technology Department at Texas A&M Galveston. “They learn the basics of the engine and how to do various repairs that they might need one day at sea. It’s not a mock-up – it’s a real 1.6 megawatt engine as can be found in tugs and ferry boats. It’s just the kind of equipment our students will be working on once they graduate. It is an ideal tool for student education and for ongoing university research on marine power systems.”

The Texas A&M Maritime Academy is one of six state maritime academies in the United States. At the conclusion of their training program, cadets are examined to become licensed in the Merchant Marine as deck or engineering officers.Plans are underway by the university to power the donated engine so that students can have the full experience of operating and maintaining a modern engine.

Once the genset is operational, Wärtsilä and Texas A&M Galveston will host a campus celebration and unveiling.The company’s support for maritime sector students is also shown in its donations to other technical learning institutions. In 2011, Wärtsilä donated a diesel engine, reduction gear, PTO (power take-off) and controls to SUNY (State University of New York) Maritime College. In that same year, a controllable pitch propeller and shafting system was donated to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY.