Wärtsilä to Power Project Genesis

Wärtsilä Corporation received a contract from Aker Yards Oy, Finland, in July 2006 for the delivery of the main engines and the transverse tunnel thrusters for the 220,000 grt Project Genesis cruise ship contracted by Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd (RCL) for operation by Royal Caribbean International. Due for delivery in autumn 2009, this cruise ship will be powered by six Wärtsilä 46 common rail diesel engines. The engines will be incorporated in the ship's diesel-electric power plant supplying all propulsion, ancillary and hotel services. Wärtsilä is also supplying four Lips transverse tunnel thrusters. The Project Genesis is a huge leap in size, being some 43 per cent larger than RCL's record-breaking "Freedom of the Seas" delivered earlier this year by Aker Yards. The 160,000 grt "Freedom of the Seas" is the latest of a long line of RCL cruise ships powered by Wärtsilä diesel engines. These include four delivered from France in 1995-1998, and five Voyager-class ships from Finland in 1999-2003 in addition to several earlier deliveries.