By
Alex Smith |
Celebrity Cruises’ fifth Edge-series cruise ship is to be equipped with a new engine model capable of using three different types of fuel, including methanol.
Parent company Royal Caribbean Group has worked with Wärtsilä and Chantiers de l’Atlantique to develop the engine, along with storage and delivery systems, in a collaborative effort to drive the use of alternative fuels for the cruise industry.
“As we innovate our ship design and offerings, we’re also focused on equally evolving the fuel and technology landscape that powers them," said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “By incorporating tri-fuelled engines, we are ensuring that as alternative, low-carbon-based solutions become more viable, our ships will be ready to adapt and drive the industry forward to a more sustainable and net zero emissions future.”
Wärtsilä will deliver two converted 8-cylinder Wärtsilä 46F engines capable of using methanol for the ship, along with two 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 46F engines, and one Wärtsilä 32 engine. The use of methanol as a fuel significantly reduces local emissions of sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.
“Wärtsilä has invested heavily into researching viable future carbon-neutral fuels for the marine industry, and methanol has emerged as one of the most promising candidates,” said Håkan Agnevall, president and CEO of Wärtsilä. This will be the second methanol-fuelled engine conversion that we have undertaken, and the first with the Wärtsilä 46F engine. We share the commitment to decarbonize shipping, and the transparent partnership between our three companies for this new build project is a tremendous boost for achieving this aim.”
Wärtsilä will convert the 46F engines to run on methanol at Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s yard in Saint Nazaire, France, prior to commissioning.
“Development and integration of methanol systems on a cruise ship is a new challenge for Chantiers de l'Atlantique and, for the first time, is part of our decarbonisation program,” said Laurent Castaing, general manager of Chantiers de l'Atlantique.