Marine engines – find manufacturers and suppliers

Marine engines have many applications

A ship engine should deliver strong performance and be characterised by low consumption. This also protects the environment. Long maintenance intervals further reduce costs. Many shipyards offer used engines that are also of good quality. Especially for marine diesel engines the exhaust emission values are of increasing importance. The better the quality of the engine, the lower the exhaust gas values. Whether ferry, inland waterway vessel, tug, ocean-going vessel, container ship, cruise ship, fishing boat, coast guard boat, service ship or mowing vessel, all need reliable engines. A distinction must be made between whether the engine serves as main or auxiliary drive. Sailing ships usually have auxiliary engines installed as an additional drive for slack periods. In the navy, marine engines are not only used for propulsion, but also for energy supply as marine generators. Almost all larger ships, especially commercial ones, have a spare engine that can easily be switched on in an emergency, as well as emergency generators, so-called marine generators.

Nearly everyone knows the motorist clubs, which always step in when the car has broken down again or there is an emergency around the car. But hardly anyone is aware that wherever there are major ports and shipyards around the globe, there are also representatives of the largest marine engine manufacturers who offer assistance in emergencies involving marine engines. The services range from 100 - 2,600 ch. In commercial shipping, fast four-stroke diesel engines with unlimited operating hours and 100% full load are used.

The largest ships demand the most powerful engines.

Container ships reach the size of four football pitches. The price war is also raging on the oceans of the world. The more efficient the ships, the lower the cost of containers. The largest container ship in the world is about 400 metres long and 58.6 metres wide. The loading capacity is 19,100 containers. The engine of this container ship measures 17.2 metres high, 5.3 metres wide and 22.5 metres long. This engine delivers 56.8 megawatts, which is 77,000 hp.

What other energy sources are used in addition to marine diesel?

Diesel is the most commonly used fuel, especially for large engines. Furthermore, heavy oil, petroleum, petrol, natural gas, coal, limited nuclear energy - reactor ships, nuclear submarines, etc., electricity, solar energy and hydrogen are used for the Alster ship. Generators or fuel cells produce electrical energy on the ship. Internal combustion engines, steam engines, gas turbines, steam turbines or steam engines drive the generators. Drives with solar generators do not have to carry primary energy, but have accumulators for buffering. The generation of energy from hydrogen in fuel cells offers an alternative to nuclear energy. Fast pumps, high temperatures and dangerous nuclear reactions can be avoided. In Germany there are already several drives based on hydrogen. Of course, in-line six-cylinder diesel engines are also used, not only four-stroke engines!

The largest ship engine manufacturers in the world

MAN Diesel & Turbo is the world's leading manufacturer. More efficient marine engines run somewhat slower, but with a longer stroke and are fully electronically controllable. The ship engine of the world's largest container ship was also developed by MAN and features electronically controlled fuel injection. This controls the injection pressure and injection curve for each load as required.

More manufacturers and suppliers

• Akasaka Diesels Ltd.
• Caterpillar Marine Power Systems
• Deutz AG
• Mitsubishi Equipment Europe
• MTU Friedrichshafen
• Perkins Marine Power
• Rolls-Royce
• SEMT Play stick
• Wärtsilä Corporation
• Yanmar Europe BV

Conclusion

Ship engines are available in increasingly sophisticated technology. A huge range of energy sources naturally also offers correspondingly numerous possibilities. Ship engines must be able to withstand high workloads, be extremely robust and deliver top performance. New generation marine engines are characterized by well thought-out, adaptable and expandable technologies, low-noise operation and durability. In commercial use, it is essential that auxiliary engines or replacement engines are available in addition to the main engine in case of emergency. Furthermore, couplings and combinations are also commonplace. Ship engines must of course also be regularly maintained and cleaned. The more effective the maintenance, the more efficient the operation of the ship engine. The environmental factor is becoming more and more important. Emissions are being reduced more and more, the ship is being operated more slowly but more efficiently. Coast guard boats must be fast and manoeuvrable, therefore they need an appropriate engine. Sailing ships are mostly used for private use. There the speed is not so important. However, if there is a calm, i.e. a complete lack of wind, an auxiliary engine is often used. Cruise ships must of course also be equipped for the case that the ship's engine fails. Tugs and icebreakers require particularly strong, resistant engines. The "application area" therefore plays a very important role. Renting ship engines does not pay off. Used engines are always worthwhile for private use and of course also provide satisfactory performance. Ship engines perform excellent services when used correctly.