| Looking
beyond 2015
Calle Bjork
Vice President Specials
Wartsila
The cruise
and ferry sector is a very important part of Wartsila’s
business which is delivering power solutions to the marine and
energy sectors.
We have an
ongoing dialogue with cruise companies, discussing options, developments
and innovations for the future and here we are always talking
some years ahead. Our current discussions are about 2015 and beyond
for - as far as 2011/2012 is concerned - that train has already
departed.
But among
Wartsila’s 18,000 employees are 580 naval architects so
we have a huge pool of expertise to call upon when developing
new products that can be adapted to the specific requirements
of the different sectors, including cruise.
We are working
hard now on propulsion and hull form optimisation and making products
to support that such as CRP - counter-rotating propellors. This
pulling thrusters concept can deliver lower cost and up to 20%
greater efficiency.
Also, in conjunction
with the then Aker Yards (now STX Europe), we developed the LNG
(Liquified Natural Gas)-powered ship and a number of these are
already operating.
There is not
yet an LNG cruise ship, though, as our next step is to consult
with the classification societies to clear the way for a cruise
adaptation. This would see the tanks situated on the upper level
of cruise ships instead of the centre-located tanks of the non-passenger
ships.
Among the
benefits of LNG power is lower CO2, NOx and the removal of all
SOx emissions.
There is no doubt that increasing environmental regulation is
driving much of research and development although the piecemeal
introduction of the legislation and the lack of financial incentives
for cruise companies to go “green” has slowed down
the take-up of new concepts and technology.
Cruise companies
are very open to new ideas and they have very competent technical
people of their own but the largest are public companies which
have to answer to shareholders right now and not in 2017.
So, although
we have many discussions about everthing from LNG to fuel cells,
the final decison on these often gets stopped by cost considerations.
With fuel
now at lower price levels, there is a temptation not to make financial
commitments now to fuel-saving technology but I firmly believe
that fuel prices will be much higher in six years’ time
so companies need to plan for that.
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