Blue Arrow Series 4,000 kW Class Diesel Engines for High-Speed Vessels Completed
Niigata Engineering Co., Ltd. has completed and started regular marketing activities for the Blue Arrow Series 20FX of medium-size high-speed diesel engines, featuring one of the world's best engine weight-to-output ratios (3.15 kg/kW).
The commercialization of this 20FX series has completed the company's lineup of diesel engines for high speed vessels, covering the output range of 1,545 to 4,000 kW. In addition to this lineup, Niigata is further planning to develop even more powerful and larger high-speed diesel engines which, coupled with water jet systems for high-speed vessels, are expected to effectively meet the need for a modal shift in domestic transport from trucking to coastal shipping services.
Background of Development
With a view to establishing its full presence in the market for fast vessels, Niigata Engineering in 1993 started regular marketing of the 16FX type high-speed diesel engine, which it developed on its own ahead of all other Japanese engine builders. Not only is the 16FX type lighter, more compact and better performing than its Japanese-built competitors, the manufacturer has also assembled a maintenance staff dedicated to high-speed engines to flexibly meet servicing requirements. This approach has resulted in the delivery of 56 units of such engines for installation in merchant passenger ships and fast car ferries as well as fishery patrol boats and other official service vessels of the Japan Coast Guard, Defense Agency, district port construction bureaus, Akita Prefecture and Iwate Prefecture.
While in many cases diesel engines for Japanesebuilt high-speed vessels have been imported, they involve problems in respect to servicing and the supply of spare parts, leading to growing demand for domestic products to replace them.
The latest 20FX type now introduced to the market capitalizes on the performance record of the 16FX model, and has been perfected as a light-weight high-speed diesel engine comparable to the highest standards in the world. These results have been achieved by pursuing even greater power output and higher efficiency.
For high-speed vessels, particular importance is attached to the external dimensions and weight-power ratio of the engine. The 20FX model excels in these respects over competing models. Its high performance does not rely on a complex supercharging system, but is achieved with a simple structure, which contributes to ease of inspection and maintenance. It also allows the combustion of marine diesel oil, which is commonly used by coastal vessels in Japan - another feature that distinguishes Niigata's new product from its competitors.
The manufacturer is planning to focus its sales activities for the 20FX model on positioning it as the choice for main engine on medium-distance fast car ferries, for which high demand is expected in the coming years; lifting engines for Techno Super-Liners (TSLs) developed under a national project; and main engine for fast patrol craft for the Japan Coast Guard and naval vessels of the Defense Agency.
Principal Particulars
Blue Arrow 6000 (16V20FX type)
Rated output ................... 4,000 kW
Rated speed .................... 1,650 min-1
No. of cylinders.. ................ 16
Cylinder arrangement............... 60゜ V
Cylinder bore .................... 205 mm
Piston stroke .................... 220 mm
Specific fuel consumption......... 210 g/kW・h
Engine dimensions
(Overall length)................ 4,090 mm
(Overall width) ................ 1,675 mm
(Overall height) ............... 2,545 mm
Weight .......................... 12.6 tons
16V20FX
Niigata Engineering Co., Ltd.
Address: 10-1 , Kamatahoncho 1-chome, Ohta-ku, Tokyo 144-8639
Tel: +81-3-5710-7735 Fax: +81-3-5710-4752
