Phase III of the HERCULES programme, HERCULES-C, aims at integrating several successful technologies in order to reduce emissions and optimize the efficiency and long-term reliability of marine engines. HERCULES-C is planned to run for three years, from 2012 to 2014, with a budget of €17 million (US$22 million). This brings the total HERCULES research program budget, which includes the earlier HERCULES-A (Phase I, 2004-2007) and HERCULES-B (Phase II, 2008-2011) projects, to €76 million (US$100 million).

Objectives of HERCULES-C Phase III project include:

1. To achieve further substantial reductions in fuel consumption, while at the same time optimizing power production and usage. This will be achieved through advanced engine developments in combustion and fuel injection, as well as through improvements in ship energy management, and the use of engine technologies supporting transport mission management.

2. To maintain the performance of engines throughout their operational lifetime. This involves advanced materials and tribology developments to improve efficiency and reliability, as well as sensors, and monitoring and measurement technologies to improve the controllability and availability of marine power plants.

3. To achieve near-zero emissions by integrating the various technologies developed in the previous collaborative research efforts.

Wärtsilä and MAN Diesel & Turbo together cover about 90% of the world’s marine engine market. These two major partner groups have been collaborating in the HERCULES programme since it was conceived in 2002 to develop new technologies to increase marine engine efficiency. In so doing, fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, as well as gaseous and particulate emissions can be reduced, while engine reliability will be increased.