Wärtsilä to debut dual-fuel engine in sail-assisted luxury cruise ships

Technology group Wärtsilä will supply its recently introduced Wärtsilä 25DF dual-fuel (LNG) engine for two new sail-assisted luxury cruise ships.

The first of the 220m vessels will be named the Orient Express Silenseas. The ships are designed to accommodate approximately 116 passengers. The full Wärtsilä scope includes for each vessel four Wärtsilä 25DF engines, each developing 2,070kW at 1,000rpm; four gas valve units (GVUs); and four Wärtsilä NOx Reducer (NOR) emission aftertreatment systems. The equipment is scheduled for delivery to the shipyard commencing autumn 2024.

According to Wärtsilä, the 25DF engine is the most efficient and most environmentally friendly marine engine in its power range. It features a two-stage turbocharging system, common rail fuel injection and cylinder-wise combustion control. This enables unparalleled power density and efficiency across the full operating range, delivering low fuel consumption and reduced emissions.

The vessels are being built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique (CdA) shipyard in France for Orient Express Silenseas, part of French hospitality group Accor. There is an option for an additional two vessels. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in May 2023.

Yann Penduff, project manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique, said, “These will be very special cruise vessels and have been designed to operate with a high level of environmental sustainability. For this reason, the Wärtsilä 25DF engine was selected. It is silent, compact in size yet powerful in performance, so it was the perfect choice for these ships.”

Stefan Nysjö, vice president of power supply at Wärtsilä Marine Power, commented, “The Wärtsilä 25DF is an engine that supports the shipping industry’s transition to greater fuel efficiency and a much-reduced carbon footprint. It marks the beginning of a new era of futureproof medium-speed, small-bore engines, and comes as an important step toward the maritime industry meeting its decarbonization goals. We are delighted that it has been selected for these very advanced cruise vessels.”

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