Wärtsilä Corporation says it has sold dual-fuel engines and propulsion systems for two Chinese liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.

The ships, due for delivery in 2015, will operate mainly in Chinese waters and run on LNG most of the time, with the ability to switch to fuel oil if necessary.

"Chinese owners are beginning to invest significantly in LNG carriers powered by dual-fuel engines, and these latest orders will add impetus to the market, both in China and globally," said Aaron Bresnahan, vice president of sales for Wärtsilä Ship Power.

One of the ships is being built by Cosco (Dalian) shipyards for Dalian Inteh Group Co. Ltd., and Ningbo Xinle Shipbuilding Group Co. Ltd., together with Shanghai CSR Hange Shipping Engineering Co. Ltd., is building the second for Zhejiang Yuanhe Ocean Shipping Co.

Each of the Wärtsilä packages includes a 50DF dual-fuel engine, a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP), a gearbox, and related systems.

MAN Diesel & Turbo announced in July that a consortium of shipping companies had ordered its dual-fuel engines for six Chinese LNG carriers, which it said would be the first large LNG carriers with dual-fuel diesel electric (DFDE) configurations built in China.