Wärtsilä delivers a power-dense engine for Clearwater lobster boat

Without constraints by the U.S. Jones Act, Canadian fishing companies can shop around the world for boat builders. Clearwater Fine Foods, of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, has gone to Hvide Sande Shipyard, on the shores of Ringkøbing Fjord on the west coast of Denmark, to build its new 134-foot lobster boat.

Designed by Clearwater’s internal engineering and operations team along with naval architects at the Norwegian firm, Skipsteknisk, the vessel will be powered by a Wärtsilä 6L20, a 1,609-hp, inline 6-cylinder engine with a 200-millimeter bore and 280-millimeter stroke that will drive a variable pitch propeller at variable speed.

“The Wärtsilä 20 is an excellent choice for this type of vessel because of its fuel efficiency, reliability, and environmental performance,” says Fredric Sunabacka, head of product management and product owner at Wärtsilä. “It is specifically tailored for vessels that alternate between high- and low-speed operations, allowing the engine to adapt smoothly to the varying demands of fishing activities.”

The Wärtsilä 20 engine series has been in production since the 1990s, and over 8,000 units have been sold around the world. Clearwater has chosen the 1609-hp 6L20 as the main engine for its new lobster boat. Wärtsilä photo.

While many Wärtsilä engines are designed to burn dual fuels like LNG, the 6L20 going into the new Clearwater vessel will burn marine diesel fuel only, and fuel consumption at shaft at 85 percent load will be 71.6 gallons per hour.

“The engine will be in compliance with global emission regulations,” says Sunabacka. “Including IMO Tier II and III, while maintaining low emissions and high fuel efficiency across operational loads. In the case of the installation onboard Clearwater's vessel, the Wärtsilä 6L20 engine, along with SCR, meets IMO Tier III [EPA Tier IV].”

As Sunabacka says, the Wärtsilä 6L20 going into the Clearwater vessel will be equipped with the company’s SCR (selective catalytic reduction) aftertreatment system to reduce nitrous oxide, NOx, in the engine exhaust.

“With the Wärtsilä NOx Reducer, the overall performance of the engine and exhaust aftertreatment is optimized in terms of emissions reduction, noise abatement, and engine efficiency,” says Wärtsilä. “And future engine modifications are easier with an OEM SCR system.”

Sunabacka notes that the company has delivered over 8,000 Wärtsilä 20 engines worldwide since its initial introduction in the 1990s. “It continues to offer best-in-class power-to-weight ratio, easy installation, and robust performance in both propulsion and auxiliary roles,” he says.

“The latest innovations include a variable inlet valve closing system for optimized fuel economy,” says Sunabacka. “The Wärtsilä 20 also includes embedded engine control and safety systems for streamlined operation and long overhaul intervals.”

“We have worked closely with Wärtsilä before and trust their local service, equipment reliability, and respect their expertise,” Tony Jabbour, vice president of global supply chain at Clearwater Seafoods, says in a Wärtsilä press release. “Understanding our needs is crucial for any supplier, and Wärtsilä has consistently demonstrated this.”