Celebrity Cruises' revolutionary Edge series fifth ship will collaborate with its parent company Royal Caribbean Group, technology group Wärtsilä and shipyard Chantiers de L'Atlantique (CdA) to advance the use of alternative fuels in the cruise industry.
The vessel continues the innovation that debuted with the Edge series, but will also be equipped with a new engine model, along with storage and supply systems, that will offer unparalleled fuel flexibility, with the ability to use three types of fuel, including methanol.
“As we innovate in the design and offering of our ships, we also focus on the same evolution of the fuel and technology that powers them,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.
“With the launch of our Edge series of ships in 2018, we set ambitious sustainability goals to make these ships the most energy-efficient large vessels at sea,” said Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo.
To enable the vessel's fuel flexibility, Wärtsilä will supply two Wärtsilä 46F 8-cylinder engines converted to run on three fuel sources, including methanol. These changes not only represent a step forward in carbon-neutral navigation but also significantly reduce local emissions such as sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter.
“We share a commitment to decarbonizing shipping, and the transparent collaboration between our three companies for this new construction project is a major boost towards achieving this goal,” said Håkan Agnevall, President and CEO of Wärtsilä.
Celebrity Cruises, along with its parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, has remained steadfast in its commitment to innovation and advancing the solutions needed for a better future. Building on a robust portfolio of technologies that improve energy efficiency, waste treatment, and water management, the addition of adaptive engines is a bold step toward achieving Destinations Net Zero, its vision of net-zero emissions by 2050.
