Wärtsilä engine to make its debut powering luxury cruise ships

The vessels are being built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique 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.

The technology group said its Wärtsilä 25DF engine is the most efficient and 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.

“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,” said Chantiers de l’Atlantique project manager Yann Penduff.

“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 towards the maritime industry meeting its decarbonisation goals.

We are delighted it has been selected for these very advanced cruise vessels,” commented Wärtsilä Marine Power vice president, power supply Stefan Nysjö.

The full Wärtsilä scope includes for each vessel four Wärtsilä 25DF engines, each developing 2070 kW at 1,000 rpm, four gas valve units, and four Wärtsilä NOx reducer emissions after-treatment systems. The equipment is scheduled for delivery to the shipyard commencing Q4 2024.

The first of the 220-m vessels will be named Orient Express Silenseas. The ships are designed to accommodate approximately 116 passengers.