When the IMO, last year, set forth an ambitious objective for the shipping industry – to halve the sector’s GHG emissions by 2050 on route to full decarbonisation by 2100 – it became clear we are now entering an era of unprecedented change. Meeting the targets requires substantial changes in the type of fuels and power sources used onboard vessels today.
We’ve been working on this challenge for decades. At Wärtsilä, we know there is nothing the internal combustion engine does with HFO that cannot be done with LNG and future fuels. We introduced dual-fuel engines to the market 30 years ago, and with 36 million running hours under our belt, this is a firmly-established technology that’s principally capable of using almost all liquid and gaseous fuels, including green ammonia, hydrogen and methanol. Our gas engines all but eradicate other emissions besides GHG, thus providing cleaner air for healthier lives. Combined with our other propulsion, electrical and automation products, we have been leading the charge to clean up the shipping industry for decades.
Of the big industries, maritime often adopts new technology late. But that’s changing. As smart technologies reach maturity in other sectors, they are increasingly rolled out in shipping. Advances in AI and robotics have seen shipowners and operators seeking intelligent solutions for securing energy efficiency, environmental protection and safety on all levels. Developments in data harnessing, computing power, and communications are enabling machine learning and automation to eliminate inefficiencies in daily operations.
Wärtsilä is bringing to life a Smart Marine Ecosystem that uses connectivity, real-time communication and data analytics in operation and energy management. By connecting everything, and leveraging our broad portfolio, we help our customers plan their fleet expansion, secure a substantial decrease in fuel bill while meeting GHG emission targets – supporting them in achieving sustainable profitability for the next 40 years to come.
