Wärtsilä has been selected to supply the engines and related emissions control after-treatment systems for two new passenger ferries being built for operation between Switzerland and France across Lake Geneva.

The ferries are being built at the Shiptec yard in Switzerland for General Navigation Company (CGN), a Swiss ferry operator based in Lausanne.

The high-speed Wärtsilä 14 engines chosen for this project are compliant with the stringent EU Stage V emissions standard for inland waterway vessels, which came into force in the EU earlier this year.

The 60 meters long, 700 passenger capacity vessels will feature advanced hybrid energy and propulsion systems, for which the Wärtsilä 14 is a perfect match.

“Environmental sustainability was strongly emphasized in the specifications for this newbuild project. We are, therefore, extremely pleased and proud that the Wärtsilä 14 engine was selected to provide the power and reliability needed, while complying with the EU Stage V emissions standard.”

Johan Penninga, account manager, Wärtsilä Marine Power.

“Minimizing the emissions from their operations is of great importance to CGN, and these new vessels are designed to operate cleanly and efficiently. The Wärtsilä engine was chosen with these criteria very much in mind.”

Martin Einsiedler, head of naval architecture and engineering at Shiptec.

The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for delivery beginning in summer 2021, and the first vessel is expected to start commercial operations in December 2022. The second ferry will be delivered approximately one year later.