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Le Commandant Charcot

Wärtsilä to Power Ponant’s Hybrid Electric Icebreaker

The technology group Wärtsilä’s 31DF dual-fuel engine, which emphasises outstanding efficiency, extremely economical fuel consumption, and minimal emissions, has been selected to power a new and highly advanced, pioneering cruise vessel. The polar ice-class luxury cruise vessel is being built for the France-based operator Ponant at Vard Søviknes, a part of VARD shipbuilding group in Norway. The order with Wärtsilä was in the second quarter of 2018.

Le Commandant CharcotBecause the 150-metre long ship will operate in environmentally sensitive Arctic and Antarctic waters, it will operate primarily on LNG. Wärtsilä’s advanced technologies and experience in LNG solutions were cited as key reasons for the selection of the 31DF engines and other Wärtsilä solutions.

In addition to four 14-cylinder and two 10-cylinder Wärtsilä 31DF engines, Wärtsilä will also supply the fuel gas supply system, chosen because of the company’s outstanding experience and references in gas containment and gas fuel systems. Also included in the scope is Wärtsilä’s Nacos Platinum advanced navigation equipment, which can later be integrated with an Eniram proactive energy management system delivering predictive insights and mobile alerts. Eniram is a Wärtsilä company.

The company’s Smart Marine Ecosystem vision is to use high levels of connectivity and digitalisation in enabling the efficient use of resources, the highest levels of safety, and the least possible impact on the environment.

The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled to be delivered in 2020, one year before delivery of Ponant’s polar ice-class luxury cruise vessel. This will be the twelfth ship in Ponant’s fleet of cruise vessels. The previous eleven ships are all powered by Wärtsilä engines.

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