Skarv awards Wärtsilä its first ammonia engine newbuild order

A cargo vessel on order at the Huanghai shipyard in China for Norway’s Skarv Shipping Solutions will be the first newbuild to have a complete Wärtsilä 25 ammonia solution. In addition to the Wärtsilä 25 ammonia engine, it will include an AmmoniaPac fuel gas supply system, the Wärtsilä Ammonia release mitigation system (WARMS), and a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system designed for ammonia.

According Wärtsilä, total greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by at least 90% 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.

By enabling a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, the Wärtsilä 25 ammonia solution supports Skarv Shipping Solutions’ commitment to deliver sustainable short-sea shipping in Northern Europe.

Skarv Shipping Solutions is a joint venture set up last year by the Bergen headquartered Peak Group, which operates a fleet of around 25 dry cargo, project and self-discharging vessels ranging from 1,000 dwt to 6,000 dwt, and the Grieg Maritime Group’s sustainability-focused Grieg Edge subsidiary.

“Our aim is to prove that it is possible to renew the European short-sea fleet while making it more climate-friendly,” says Jan Øivind Svardal, CEO – Skarv Shipping Solutions. “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.”

“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 decarbonizing shipping operations,” comments Roger Holm, president of Wärtsilä Marine and executive vice president at Wärtsilä Corporation. “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.”

The Wärtsilä 25 ammonia engine, which is available as part of the Wärtsilä 25 engine platform, was developed based on the company’s safety and operational experience gained from low pressure dual-fuel (DF) engines running on LNG.

The equipment delivery for this newbuild is scheduled to begin in fourth quarter 2026.

Ammonia has emerged as a promising alternative fuel and will play a significant role in achieving IMO’s net-zero-emissions target for 2050. A report from Wärtsilä, “Sustainable fuels for shipping by 2050 – the three key elements of success,” highlights the role that sustainable fuels will play in achieving the IMO target. According to the report, existing decarbonization solutions, such as fuel efficiency measures, could cut shipping emissions by up to 27% Sustainable fuels, such as ammonia, are then a critical step in eliminating the remaining 73%.

• Download the report HERE.

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