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Wärtsilä Hamworthy, the world's leading marine scrubbing technology manufacturer, has today announced an agreement with German firm Meyer Weft, well known for the construction of modern and highly sophisticated cruise vessels.

As part of the agreement, Wärtsilä Hamworthy will provide a total of four hybrid scrubber systems for two vessels under construction at Meyer Weft's shipyard in Germany for Royal Caribbean International.

The choice of scrubbers for Royal Caribbean's new 'Sunshine' class vessels enables these ships to travel anywhere in the world, as the scrubbers will ensure compliance for the 2015 Emission Control Area (ECA) 0.1% sulphur limit, as well as the worldwide 0.5% limit from 2020 and the impending North American ECA, by removing sulphur emissions and harmful particulates from the vessel's exhaust. The order for these 'Sunshine' class vessels is included in Wärtsilä Hamworthy's second quarter 2012 order book.

The solution chosen by Meyer Werft and Royal Caribbean ensures universal compliance with sulphur limits, allowing maximum choice over voyage routes and destinations. It also allows significant flexibility in the operation of the scrubber itself. The hybrid approach allows switching between open-loop and closed-loop scrubbing. This means that at sea, scrubbing using only sea water can be enabled but while manoeuvring or in port the system can be closed, re-circulating the water already within the scrubber.

Sigurd Jenssen, Director, Exhaust Gas Cleaning, Wärtsilä Environmental Solutions commented: "These orders from a world-leading cruise line further validates scrubbing technology as a credible, efficient and cost effective way of achieving ECA compliance. This order is clearly a considerable recognition of Wärtsilä Hamworthy's ability to help organisations to meet that challenge."

Royal Caribbean's two 'Sunshine' class vessels are currently under construction, the first vessel is due for delivery in autumn 2014 with the second expected in spring 2015. Each will be able to accommodate 4,100 passengers.

Image: Royal Caribbean's cruise vessel Vision of the Seas.