Wärtsilä LNG Engine Featured on Environmentally Advanced Cruise Ship

The technology group Wärtsilä’s 31DF dual-fuel engine has been selected to power a new and advanced polar ice-class luxury cruise ship. The vessel is being built for the France-based operator Ponant at Vard Søviknes, a part of VARD shipbuilding group in Norway.

Because the 550-foot long ship will operate in environmentally sensitive Arctic and Antarctic waters, it will operate primarily on LNG. Wärtsilä’s advanced technologies and experience in LNG solutions were cited as key reasons for the selection of the 31DF engines and other Wärtsilä solutions.

In addition to four 14-cylinder and two 10-cylinder Wärtsilä 31DF engines, will also supply the fuel gas supply system, chosen because of the company’s outstanding experience and references in gas containment and gas fuel systems.

“We have ordered the building of a clean ship featuring technologies that go beyond current industry-standard environmental regulations,” said Charles Gravatte, Ponant General Secretary. “This is why we have chosen a propulsion format with Wärtsilä’s highly efficient 31DF engine running on LNG.”

The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled to be delivered in 2020, one year before delivery of Ponant’s polar ice-class luxury cruise vessel.