Wärtsilä Updating Cruise Ship

Wärtsilä will supply a broad scope of solutions to Hurtigruten, the world’s largest expedition cruise operator, as it converts three vessels to become hybrid powered expedition cruise ships.

The order with Wärtsilä covers the MS Finnmarken, the first of the three vessels to be upgraded. Following the conversion project, the 140 m, 530 guest vessel will be renamed the MS Otto Sverdrup.

The scope includes upgrading the ship’s Wärtsilä engines for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology to restrict emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). Four Wärtsilä Nitrogen Oxide Reducer (NOR) systems will be installed for this conversion.

The ship’s main engines are four-stroke diesels. The engines are paired two by two. Anterior engines are 9-cylinder W9L32 with 5630 HP each, and the rear are 6-cylinder W6L32 with 3780 HP each.

Wärtsilä will also deliver two Energopac systems. The integrated propeller and rudder design of the Wärtsilä Energopac utilizes advanced hydrodynamic technology to optimize propulsion efficiency. This enables effective savings in fuel, costs, and emissions. The ship will also have the capability to operate on battery power to further lessen its environmental footprint.

“We have enjoyed a good customer relationship with Hurtigruten for many years, and we are pleased and honored to have been selected to supply our sustainable solutions to a company that is committed to protecting the environment. The fact that we could deliver Tier 3 certificates for the total installation was a significant factor in the award of this contract,” says Cato Esperø, head of Sales, Service Unit Nordics and Baltics, Wärtsilä Marine.

The vessel was built in 2002 and has a tonnage of 15,690 gross tons, 6113 tons net, and capacity is 945 tonnes deadweight. It has a car capacity of 47, 628 beds that can accommodate up to 1000 passengers, and a top speed of 15 knots.

“At Hurtigruten, the push for sustainable solutions and the introduction of green technology is the core of everything we do. We operate in some of the most spectacular areas of the world. This comes with a responsibility,” said Daniel Skjeldam, CEO of Hurtigruten.

The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for delivery in December of this year. Hurtigruten has announced that all new additions to its fleet, as well as its existing vessels, will be made compliant with the IMO’s Tier 3 regulations.