Wärtsilä to supply hybrid propulsion systems to Stena’s methanol-fuelled RoRo vessels

Finnish engine maker Wärtsilä will supply hybrid propulsion systems to Swedish shipping line Stena RoRo’s upcoming two hybrid roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels that can run on methanol.

PHOTO: Stena RoRo’s hybrid roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel concept. Wärtsilä

Both vessels will be equipped with Wärtsilä’s multi-fuel engines that can run on methanol or other conventional marine fuels, and are ammonia-ready. Ammonia-ready means that the vessels have the option to be retrofitted for ammonia propulsion in the future.

Wärtsilä will also provide three auxiliary engines, auxiliary equipments and the hybrid electric system to each of the vessels. The hybrid electric system comprises shore power, batteries, shaft generators, converters, transformers and an energy management system.

The hybrid electric system will help optimise “the fuel consumption today” and allow “for future full green operation,” and shore power will enable “carbon-free operations when the vessels are in port,” Wärtsilä says.

Both companies “share the same commitment to decarbonising shipping operations, and these vessels represent a further step in this direction by being the first methanol hybrid ships in their class,” Wärtsilä’s Marine Power business’ president Roger Holm says.

Both vessels are being built at the China Merchants Jinling shipyard (Weihai) in China. Wärtsilä booked the first and second part of the order in the second quarter and the third quarter of this year respectively. The engine maker will deliver the equipment in 2024.

The vessels are scheduled to be delivered in June and November 2025, respectively. Upon delivery, both vessels will be deployed in the Irish Sea.

By Tuhin Roy

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