Vessel with First Smokeless Diesel Engine

The new 88,500-ton cruise ship Carnival Spirit has been fitted with the cruise industry's first smokeless diesel engine. This first ship in a new class for Carnival Cruise Lines, delivered from Kvaerner Masa-Yards, arrived in Miami on 24th April. Carnival Spirit is equipped with the first of a new class of engines dubbed EnviroEngine. The new modified engine is part of a project between Carnival and Wärtsilä to develop a new "earth-friendly" power system. Carnival and Wärtsilä will now observe the operation of the engine in its own environment during the Alaska season. After this initial operation a second engine will be converted to an EnviroEngine.

Carnival Spirit before delivery, Kvaerner Masa-Yards

The modified engines, part of a diesel-electric propulsion system, represent one of the most environmentally-friendly power plants ever made available for cruise ships, exceeding the international standards for emissions set out in MARPOL Annex VI. The two Wärtsilä 46 EnviroEngines use a common rail fuel injection system which enables injection pressures to be kept sufficiently high at all engine speeds - even at the lowest levels - to ensure clean combustion with no visible smoke emissions. The engines will be particularly beneficial for use in port, as they produce no visible emissions even when lightly loaded for producing energy for lighting, air conditioning and other hotel systems.

The EnviroEngine design is expected to be used for other vessels currently under construction, including 88,500-ton ships by Carnival Cruise Lines and for sister companies Holland America and Costa.