Hyundai announces new 'green' marine engine

by Media Services on 8 Mar 2010 Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world's largest ship builder, has announced it has produced the world's first environment-friendly marine engine that meets a new global standard on harmful emissions from ships.

According to the Korea Times, the 16,680-horsepower new engine, developed in collaboration with German-based MAN Diesel, proved to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 15 percent on a trial run, the company said.
The engine was delivered Wednesday to China's Yangfan Shipyard for a 92,000-ton bulk carrier. It is the first product to meet the latest Tier II regulations by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), according to the shipbuilder. In 2008, the IMO approved a new set of regulations with tightened NOx emission standard for marine engines from 17 grams per 1 kilowatt-hour to 14.4 grams in October 2008.

All ships constructed from Jan. 1, 2011, are subject to them and should be installed with engines compliant with the new emission target. For those built on or after Jan. 1, 2016, reduction requirements in NOx emissions will be further intensified under the most stringent controls of Tier III regulations. Hyundai Heavy started the engine production in 2008, and newly developed several key components such as turbochargers, fuel valves and air coolers in an effort to renew the design according to the Tier II regulations.

'Shipowners' demand for environment-friendly products is increasing as awareness of the impact on the environment rises,' Kim Eung-sung, senior vice president of Hyundai Heavy's engine & machinery division, said in a statement. 'Producing the first environment-friendly engines meeting new IMO standards gives us a distinct advantage in this growing market.'

Hyundai Heavy is the world's largest engine producer taking up 35 percent of the global marine engine market. Its accumulated production reached 94 million horsepower in 2-stroke engines and 20 million horsepower in 4-stroke engines as of last year. To diversity businesses amid the still ongoing slump in the global shipbuilding industry, the company also looks to tap into the shipping business.

It plans to add several new fields, including shipping, to business objects on its articles of association at its annual shareholders' meeting scheduled next week.

More at english.hhi.co.kr