Feeders Feast on Enhanced Diesel Power
MAN Diesel is enjoying continued success with its four-stroke heavy fuel engine, the type 58/64, which is proving popular for container feeder vessel applications.
The 58/64 is the largest engine in the MAN diesel range of four strokes in terms of cylinder displacement, producing a maximum output of 1,400 kW per cylinder. It is popular in single engine propulsion plants aboard ships with power requirements between around 8,000 and 13,000 kW. The inline design offered in 6, 7, 8, and 9 cylinder inline versions is popular for the propulsion of container feeder vessels with capacities from around 1,000 to 1,700 TEU.
From a production total of some 300 engines in the 20 years since its launch, over 130 type 58/64 diesels have been sold for use in the German designed CV 1100 (1,100 TEU) container feeder built by a number of shipyards, especially in China, and predominantly sold to German owners.
Recent 58/64 updates have achieved both enhanced operating values and improvements to engine production, maintenance, overhaul and repair. On the performance side, modifications to the cylinder head and the turbocharging system have given reduced fuel consumption, compliance with the IMO Tier 2 emissions legislation and an increase in power output to 1,400 kW per cylinder. A major factor in optimizing production and servicing was a reduction in the 58/64’s overall component count, leading to easier assembly and dismantling and reduced spare parts inventories.
Recently MAN Diesel played host to a group of shipowners from the Netherlands and the “Altes Land” area near Hamburg, all of whom have type 58/64 heavy fuel engine on order. Representatives included shipowners Ehler, Döhle, Rambow, Barthels, Holwerda, Eicke, and Schiffahrtskontor Altes Land (SAL). Some specific measures covered at the event included fitting the latest generation of high efficiency TCA 55 or TCA 66 axial turbocharger and new improved thermal insulation and better gas admission to improve turbocharger response.
For Sietas shipyard and SAL, who attended the event, the occasion also involved acceptance testing of nine cylinder 9L 58/60 engines for a Sietas Type 176 heavy lift vessel, due to be completed in early 2008. SAL has a total of four Sietas Type 176 heavy lift ships and two Type 179 ships on order. Both Types are powered by the 9L 58/64 engine.
