Finland-headed technology group Wärtsilä Oyj has announced that it will supply its advanced Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia solution to power a new cargo vessel for Norway-based Skarv Shipping Solutions. This vessel, which will be built at the Huanghai shipyard in China, will be the first newbuild to benefit from the solution.
According to Wärtsilä, this marks a significant milestone in sustainable maritime innovation.
The 4-stroke ammonia engine enables a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and supports Skarv Shipping Solutions’ commitment to deliver sustainable short-sea shipping in Northern Europe.
In addition to the engine, Wärtsilä will also supply the complete fuel gas supply system and exhaust after-treatment.
Promising marine fuel alternative
Ammonia has emerged as a promising alternative fuel and will play a significant role in achieving the net-zero-emissions target for 2050.
A 2024 report from Wärtsilä – ‘Sustainable fuels for shipping by 2050 – the 3 key elements of success’ – highlights the role that sustainable fuels will play in achieving this target set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
According to the report, existing decarbonisation solutions, such as fuel efficiency measures, could cut shipping emissions by up to 27 percent.
Sustainable fuels, such as ammonia, are then a critical step in eliminating the remaining 73 percent.
Our aim is to prove that it is possible to renew the European short-sea fleet while making it more climate-friendly. That means implementing a whole array of technologies. We see ammonia as one of the future fuels and are happy to see strong European companies like Wärtsilä leading the push towards carbon-free propulsion. The Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia solution promises exactly what we are looking for: robust safety and environmental measures combined with advanced energy-efficient technology, said Jan Øivind Svardal, CEO, Skarv Shipping Solutions.
Turnkey delivery
Wärtsilä will supply the complete ammonia solution, including the Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia engine, AmmoniaPac Fuel Gas Supply System, the Wärtsilä Ammonia Release Mitigation System (WARMS), and a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system designed for ammonia.
Safety, efficiency, and reliability are central to Wärtsilä’s solution design. Total GHG emissions are reduced by at least 90 percent when running the engine on sustainable ammonia, compared to equivalent diesel engines.
This allows operators to meet current EU emissions targets for 2050, and to also exceed the IMO target for 2040.
The Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia engine and the whole solution is the result of extensive research and testing over a number of years, in line with our commitment to decarbonising shipping operations. Through our focus on continuous improvement, we have developed the Wärtsilä 25 engine, along with our associated ammonia handling systems, to deliver outstanding levels of safety, efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. This solution offers the marine industry a future-ready solution that is available today, commented Roger Holm, President of Wärtsilä Marine & EVP at Wärtsilä Corporation.
The Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia engine, which is available as part of the Wärtsilä 25 engine platform, was developed based on the company’s vast safety and operational experience gained from low-pressure dual-fuel (DF) engines running on LNG.
The equipment delivery, the value of which has not been disclosed, for this newbuild is scheduled to begin in Q4 2026.
