The main marine engine manufacturers for commercial ships are Everllence (formerly MAN Energy Solutions), WinGD and J-ENG, which design two-stroke main engines, and Wärtsilä, HD Hyundai (HiMSEN), Daihatsu Infinearth, Yanmar, Caterpillar (MaK and Cat), Cummins, MTU and Bergen Engines for four-stroke engines and gensets. Most two-stroke engines are designed by one company and built under licence by another, so the builder and the serial number decide which spare parts fit.
Look at the nameplate on a ship’s main engine and you may find three company names. One designed it, one built it, and the third is the name the designer used before it changed. In the last three years alone, MAN Energy Solutions became Everllence, Daihatsu Diesel became Daihatsu Infinearth, Hitachi Zosen became Kanadevia and HSD Engine became Hanwha Engine. Your manuals, planned maintenance system and old quotes still carry the old names.
So who actually makes ship engines today, and who do you call when you need parts? This guide covers commercial ships, not leisure boats. It sets out who designs the engines, who builds them, who has renamed or sold up, and which machinery makers sit next to them in the engine room. It skips outboards and yacht engines.
The main marine engine manufacturers in 2026
Here are the makers you’re most likely to find on a merchant ship, with the engine families that appear on their nameplates. The families are examples, not full ranges.
| Manufacturer | Based in | What you’ll find on board | Engine families on the nameplate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everllence (formerly MAN Energy Solutions) | Germany | Two-stroke main engines (Everllence B&W), four-stroke gensets and propulsion engines, turbochargers | ME-C and MC-C two-strokes; L21/31, L23/30H and L27/38 gensets |
| WinGD | Switzerland (owned by CSSC, China) | Two-stroke main engines | X and X-DF; older Wärtsilä and Sulzer RTA and RT-flex |
| J-ENG (Japan Engine Corporation) | Japan | Two-stroke main engines | UE (UEC), for example 6UEC50LSH-Eco |
| Wärtsilä | Finland | Four-stroke main engines and gensets | W20, W25, W31, W32, W34DF, W46F |
| HD Hyundai | South Korea | Two-strokes built under licence; its own HiMSEN four-strokes | HiMSEN H21/32, H25/33 |
| Daihatsu Infinearth (formerly Daihatsu Diesel) | Japan | Four-stroke gensets and propulsion engines | DK-20, DK-28, DE-18, DK-36e |
| Yanmar | Japan | Four-stroke gensets on merchant ships; smaller propulsion engines | 6EY18, 6EY22 |
| Caterpillar (Cat and MaK) | USA; MaK in Germany | Medium-speed MaK engines; high-speed Cat engines | MaK M20, M25, M32, M43 |
| Cummins | USA | High-speed engines for tugs, workboats and emergency gensets | K-series, QSK50, QSK60 |
| MTU (Rolls-Royce Power Systems) | Germany | High-speed engines (above 1,000 rpm) for ferries, crew transfer and naval vessels | Series number on the nameplate |
| Bergen Engines (Langley Holdings) | Norway | Medium-speed propulsion engines and gensets | B33:45, C25:33, older B32:40 |
| Mitsubishi Heavy Industries group | Japan | MET turbochargers; the UE two-stroke moved to J-ENG in 2017 | MET-MB, MET-MBII |
“Largest” depends on what you count. HD Hyundai is the biggest builder by its own figures, reporting a 36% share of global two-stroke engine production in 2022 (KED Global, 2023). The engines it builds, though, are mostly designed by someone else. Which brings us to the most useful idea in this guide.
Designer or builder: why one engine carries several names
Large two-stroke main engines come from just three design houses: Everllence (sold as Everllence B&W), WinGD and J-ENG. They develop the engine and own the drawings. Most of the engines themselves are built under licence by engine works close to the shipyards.
The numbers make the point. Everllence lists 18 two-stroke licensees and sub-licensees: eight in China, six in Japan and four in South Korea (Everllence licensee list, checked October 2026). J-ENG’s UE engines are also built under licence in China, by Guangzhou Diesel Engine Factory and Zhejiang Yungpu Diesel Engine.
| Builder (licensee) | Country | Builds | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| HD Hyundai Heavy Industries | South Korea | Everllence B&W two-strokes; own HiMSEN four-strokes | Largest two-stroke builder by its own 2022 figures |
| HD Hyundai Marine Engine | South Korea | Everllence B&W two-strokes for small and medium ships | Formerly STX Heavy Industries, renamed July 2024 |
| Hanwha Engine | South Korea | Everllence B&W and WinGD two-strokes | Formerly HSD Engine, and Doosan Engine before that |
| Mitsui E&S | Japan | Everllence B&W two-strokes; MET turbochargers under licence | One builder can license both the engine and its turbocharger |
| Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kanadevia | Japan | Everllence B&W two-strokes | Kanadevia was Hitachi Zosen until 1 October 2024 |
| CSSC-MES Diesel, Hudong Heavy Machinery, Yichang Marine Diesel and others | China | Everllence B&W two-strokes | China has the most licensees on the Everllence list |
| Guangzhou Diesel Engine Factory, Zhejiang Yungpu Diesel Engine | China | J-ENG UE two-strokes | Licensed by J-ENG |
Why the builder matters when you order parts
Imagine two sister ships with the same engine designation, one engine built in Korea and one in Japan. The design is the same. The serial numbers, build records and some of the fitted components are not. Hanwha Engine, for example, builds both Everllence B&W and WinGD designs, and Mitsui E&S builds MET turbochargers under licence from Mitsubishi.
Here’s what that means in practice: the designation tells you the engine family, but the builder and serial number tell you which parts list applies. We covered the same point for tanker main engines and their gensets, and it holds for every ship type.
Renamed, merged or sold: who is who now
This is the table to keep next to your planned maintenance system. Everllence’s own guidance is that contracts signed under the former name stay in force, because only the name changed, not the legal entity (Everllence renaming FAQ).
| Name in your manual or on the nameplate | Who it is now | When |
|---|---|---|
| MAN Energy Solutions, MAN Diesel & Turbo, MAN B&W | Everllence. Two-strokes are sold as Everllence B&W, and the service brand is now Everllence PrimeServ | Registered 4 June 2025 |
| Wärtsilä or Sulzer two-strokes (RTA, RT-flex, RT-flex96C) | WinGD, 100% owned by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) | Formed 2015; fully CSSC-owned since 2016 |
| Sulzer four-strokes | Wärtsilä, which took over Sulzer’s diesel business | 1997 |
| ABB Turbocharging (VTR, TPL, A100) | Accelleron, listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange | October 2022 |
| Daihatsu Diesel | Daihatsu Infinearth | 2025 (approved by shareholders in June 2024) |
| Doosan Engine, then HSD Engine | Hanwha Engine | February 2024 |
| STX Heavy Industries | HD Hyundai Marine Engine | July 2024 |
| Hitachi Zosen | Kanadevia | 1 October 2024 |
| Mitsubishi UE engines, Kobe Diesel | J-ENG (Japan Engine Corporation) | 1 April 2017 |
| Rolls-Royce Bergen | Bergen Engines, owned by Langley Holdings | 31 December 2021 |
| MTU, Tognum | Rolls-Royce Power Systems (MTU stays the brand) | 2014 |
| MaK (Krupp MaK) | Caterpillar | 1997 |
| SEMT Pielstick | MAN, so today Everllence | Full control in 2006 |
Sources: WinGD history, ABB and J-ENG company histories, company filings and trade press.
Ownership is still moving, too. In June 2026, Volkswagen agreed to sell 51% of Everllence to Bain Capital and keep 49%. The deal still needs regulatory approvals and a consultation in France (Everllence, 25 June 2026).
Brands that no longer build engines, but still run
An engine can outlive its maker’s interest in building new ones. A few you’ll still meet:
- MaK. In July 2021, Caterpillar said it would stop selling new MaK medium-speed engines and focus only on aftermarket service, with the wind-down finished by the end of 2022. It said existing MaK owners keep access to its parts and service (Maritime Executive, 2021).
- Sulzer. The two-stroke line lives on at WinGD. Wärtsilä has been an authorised service provider for WinGD products, including Sulzer- and Wärtsilä-branded engines, under a ten-year agreement signed in January 2018.
- SKL. The Magdeburg engine works built diesels for decades. Tognum took over SKL Motor in 2008 and renamed it MTU Reman Technologies in 2012, and it now remanufactures MTU engines. There’s no longer an SKL engine maker to call.
- Ruston and Paxman. Everllence UK says it is the original equipment manufacturer for these brands and holds the original design drawings (Everllence UK).
For engines like these, a reconditioned part or an exchange unit is often the practical route. It should be labelled as such, not passed off as new.
Engine-room machinery makers you’ll meet next to the engines
The engine is one line on the requisition. The pumps, compressors and ballast water treatment system are the others, and many of the names are Japanese and German specialists that rarely appear in “top 10” lists.
| Maker | Based in | Known for on board | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allweiler | Germany (Radolfzell) | Marine pumps | A CIRCOR brand; KKR took CIRCOR private in 2023 |
| Naniwa Pump | Japan (Osaka; factory in Fukui) | Engine-room and pump-room pumps; cargo pump turbines under an MHI licence since 2001 | Founded 1921 |
| Shinko Industries | Japan (Hiroshima) | Cargo oil pumps and their steam turbines on crude tankers, LNG cargo pumps, centrifugal pumps | Founded 1938 as a pump maker |
| Tanabe Pneumatic Machinery | Japan | Starting-air, control-air and service-air compressors | Founded 1921. Starting-air compressors usually work at 30 bar and must be class-approved |
| Hatlapa | Germany (Uetersen) | Air compressors, winches, steering gear | Part of MacGregor since 2013 |
| PANASIA | South Korea (Busan) | GloEn-Patrol ballast water treatment systems | USCG type approval 162.060/14/3, valid to 7 December 2028 (USCG) |
Sperre and Sauer are other compressor names you’ll see, and on the separators the plate often says Alfa Laval or GEA Westfalia. Same rule as the engines: the model and serial number on the plate decide the part.
How to order parts when the maker’s name has changed
It’s not rocket science, but it does take discipline. Send these with every enquiry:
- The engine designation and mark, for example 6G60ME-C10.5. A photo of the nameplate is ideal.
- The builder and the engine serial number. Old name or new name, both are fine. The serial number is what matters.
- Part numbers with plate and item numbers from the maker’s spare parts catalogue.
- For gensets, pumps and compressors: that unit’s own maker, model and serial number.
- The documentation you need for class, PSC or company records.
- Port and ETA, and whether the vessel will be at berth or at anchor.
Ordering from a photo of the old part alone is… optimistic. Here’s why the wrong part number can cost you more than the part itself.
What to watch out for
Test data from some Japanese engine builders
In 2024, three Japanese engine builders admitted altering shop-test data. Kawasaki Heavy Industries altered NOx test results on 673 two-stroke engines going back to 2000. Hitachi Zosen (now Kanadevia) altered fuel consumption data on more than 1,300 engines since 1999. IHI Power Systems said about 86% of the nearly 4,900 marine engines it shipped had altered fuel consumption data (Maritime Executive, August 2024). Kawasaki said engine safety was not affected. If your engine came from one of these builders, ask your class society whether it’s on the affected list before you rely on its shop-test figures.
Counterfeit parts
ABB says it has found a growing number of counterfeit spare parts installed in original ABB marine equipment, and it offers to confirm parts against the serial number (ABB). Cummins warned in 2022 that fakes now copy the labels, packaging, barcodes and QR codes. A box that looks right isn’t proof. A certificate that matches the part is.
Agreements and owners that may change
The Everllence sale hadn’t closed when this guide was written. The Wärtsilä service agreement for WinGD engines was signed in 2018 for ten years. Neither changes the part you need tomorrow, but both can change who quotes it.
“Top 10” lists
Let’s be careful with these. Many rank companies without saying by what measure, and some mix ship engines with outboard motors. A list that puts a VLCC main engine next to a speedboat engine isn’t much help to your chief engineer.
Spare parts for these makers from Aniran
We supply marine engine spare parts for Wärtsilä, MAN B&W, Sulzer, MaK, Caterpillar, Cummins, Daihatsu, Yanmar, Mitsubishi and SKL engines, among others. We also supply spares for Allweiler, Naniwa and Shinko pumps and Tanabe and Hatlapa compressors, and PANASIA ballast water treatment system spares through authorised channels only.
Every quote is clearly labelled as Genuine, Alternative (made to OEM specification), Reconditioned or Exchange. Every part is checked against the engine serial number before dispatch, with no substitutions without approval and full documentation for class and PSC. Not sure which label fits your case? Our guide to OEM vs aftermarket marine parts explains the difference.
If the vessel calls Hong Kong, our engineers can fit the parts on board, at berth or at anchorage, through our on-board repair and maintenance team. For turbocharger spares, see our marine turbocharger guide.
If you remember one thing
Order against the builder and serial number on the nameplate, not the company name on the cover of the manual. Company names change. Serial numbers don’t.
FAQ
Who are the biggest marine engine manufacturers?
The biggest marine engine manufacturers for ocean-going ships are the three two-stroke designers, Everllence, WinGD and J-ENG, together with the licensees that build their engines. HD Hyundai is the largest builder by its own figures, reporting a 36% share of global two-stroke engine production in 2022. Common four-stroke names include Wärtsilä, HiMSEN, Daihatsu and Yanmar.
Who makes ship engines?
Ship engines are made by two groups of companies: designers and builders. Designers such as Everllence, WinGD and J-ENG develop two-stroke main engines and license them to builders in South Korea, China and Japan. Four-stroke engine makers such as Wärtsilä, Daihatsu Infinearth, Yanmar and Caterpillar’s MaK mostly build their own designs.
Which companies make two-stroke marine engines?
Three companies design two-stroke marine engines: Everllence (sold as Everllence B&W), WinGD and J-ENG (UE engines). Licensed builders make most of the engines themselves. Everllence alone lists 18 two-stroke licensees and sub-licensees in China, Japan and South Korea, including HD Hyundai, Hanwha Engine, Mitsui E&S and Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
What is the difference between an engine designer and an engine builder?
An engine designer develops the engine and owns its drawings, while an engine builder manufactures it under licence. For a two-stroke main engine, the designer is usually Everllence, WinGD or J-ENG, and the builder is a licensee such as HD Hyundai or Hanwha Engine. The builder’s serial number identifies which spare parts fit your engine.
What is MAN Energy Solutions called now?
MAN Energy Solutions is now called Everllence. The parent company’s new name, Everllence SE, was registered on 4 June 2025, and its two-stroke engines are now sold as Everllence B&W. Contracts signed under the old name stay in force, because only the name changed, not the legal entity.
Who owns Sulzer engines now?
Sulzer engines are now split between two owners. Wärtsilä took over Sulzer’s diesel business in 1997. The two-stroke side, including the RTA and RT-flex engines, became WinGD in 2015, and China State Shipbuilding Corporation has owned all of WinGD since 2016. Sulzer four-stroke engines stayed with Wärtsilä.
Does Caterpillar still make MaK engines?
Caterpillar no longer sells new MaK medium-speed engines. In July 2021 it announced that it would stop new MaK engine sales and focus only on aftermarket service, with production wound down by the end of 2022. Caterpillar said existing MaK engine owners keep access to its parts and service.
Need spares for any of these makers? Send the part number and a nameplate photo to [email protected]. Quote back within 24 hours. Spare parts → · Send a request →
