Wärtsilä to supply solutions for world’s first methanol fueled hybrid RoRo vessels 

Wärtsilä’s integrated propulsion system will form part of two new hybrid RoRo vessels, which will be the first of this kind  

Wärtsilä will supply its hybrid propulsion system to Swedish shipping company, Stena RoRo (RoRo). The world’s first methanol fueled hybrid vessels will operate in the Stena Line Irish Sea system. 

The combination of new sustainable fuels and electrification is in line with the RoRo’s sustainable operations target. Part of the order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q2 2023, with the remaining order booked in Q3 2023. 

Each vessel will be equipped with two 32M multi-fuel engines, capable of operating on methanol fuel and with ammonia-ready notation. Wärtsilä will also supply the methanol engine auxiliary equipment, the gearboxes, two controllable pitch propellers (CPP), and three bow thrusters.  

Each vessel will benefit from Wärtsilä’s hybrid solution, optimizing fuel consumption today and allowing full green operations in the future. The vessels will also be equipped with Wärtsilä’s shore power solution enabling carbon-free operations when the vessels are in port. 

“With the help of Wärtsilä’s advanced technology, we intend to have the greenest Ro-Ro vessels on the market,” says Per Westling, Managing Director of Stena RoRo. “These vessels are a further development of our previous cargo ship concepts where the focus on sustainability and futureproofing with multi-fuel combustion engines are prioritized.”  

Roger Holm, President of Wärtsilä’s Marine Power business, commented: “Both Stena RoRo and Wärtsilä share the same commitment to decarbonizing shipping operations. These vessels represent a further step in this direction by being the first methanol hybrid ships in their class. Not only will the emissions be minimized, but they will also have the most efficient energy utilization during operations.” 

The 147-meter-long ships will have 2800 lane meter capacity. They’re able to accommodate a total of 37 passengers and crew. They are scheduled for delivery in June and November 2025, with Wärtsilä’s equipment being delivered to the yard in 2024.