As the world's leading solution and service provider for the shipbuilding industry, Wärtsilä provides the host for two environmentally friendly tugboats owned by CNOOC Energy Development Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corporation. The two tugs are the first in a series of planned LNG-fueled tugs and the first tugboats in China to use natural gas as fuel. They are also the first tugboats in the world to use Wärtsilä dual fuel technology. The cooperation agreement was signed in early July 2012. China National Offshore Oil Corporation's development strategy is to use cleaner energy, and Wärtsilä's dual-fuel engine solution perfectly meets this demand. Because tugboats are closer to areas with higher population densities, the low emissions from Wärtsilä's dual-fuel technology are even more advantageous; high fuel efficiency also leads to lower operating costs. The two 6,500bhp tugs will operate near the Chinese coastline, with fuel coming from their own fuel storage terminals. Aaron Bresnahan, Vice President, Wärtsilä Ship Power Special Ships Business: “We are honored to work with China National Offshore Oil Corporation to host these gas tugs. The project is a milestone as it relates to the Wärtsilä ship power business. The key objectives are consistent, that is, to create higher fuel efficiency for better environmental sustainability. We agree with China National Offshore Oil Corporation's strategy to use cleaner energy and use LNG as a fuel for ships. This is consistent with Wärtsilä's own development strategy." Each tugboat will be equipped with two 6-cylinder Wärtsilä 34DF in-line dual fuel engines. The delivery time is expected to be in early 2013, and the first tug will be delivered in June 2013. Wärtsilä dual fuel engine The first application of Wärtsilä's advanced dual fuel technology was in the land power plant project in the early 1990s. Ten years later, it was first installed on marine equipment. This technology enables the engine to operate with natural gas, light or heavy oil as fuel, and smoothly transitions between different fuels during operation without loss of power supply and speed. This technology ensures operational safety and operability for continuous installation. The design of the Wärtsilä DF engine ensures consistent performance regardless of the fuel used. In 2006, the Wärtsilä dual-fuel engine was first applied to LNG carriers and has since led the industry. Since its inception, 65% of new LNG carriers have been equipped with Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines. Compared to other solutions, the great success of this model is attributed to its excellent propulsion efficiency. At the same time, meeting the environmental benefits of exhaust emission standards is another key factor in the success of this technology. When operating in a natural gas fuel mode, nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions are at least 85% lower than those specified in current IMO regulations, and CO2 emissions are below the standard by about 25% compared to conventional marine diesel engines. In addition, sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter emissions are almost zero. At present, Wärtsilä has successfully supplied dual-fuel engines to 100 LNG carriers, reaching a new milestone. As of the end of May, Wärtsilä has sold 720 dual-fuel engines, and the technology has accumulated more than 5 million hours of operation. FlagKing Flags Manufacturing Co.,Limited , https://www.cnflagkings.com