Upping green shipping ante: First newbuild vessel to run on Wärtsilä’s ammonia engine

January 27, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Finnish technology group Wärtsilä has found a first home for its ammonia engine, which will power a new cargo vessel in Norway-based Skarv Shipping Solutions’ fleet, advancing the ship’s decarbonization arsenal and enriching the maritime industry’s green toolbox.

Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia solution will be fitted onto a new Skarv Shipping cargo vessel; Source: Wärtsilä

Skarv Shipping Solutions’ vessel, which will be built at the Huanghai shipyard in China, is said to be the first newbuild to benefit from Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia solution, marking what is considered to be a significant milestone in sustainable maritime innovation.

The 4-stroke ammonia engine is perceived to enable a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and support the Norwegian firm’s commitment to deliver sustainable short-sea shipping in Northern Europe. The Finnish player will also supply the complete fuel gas supply system and exhaust after-treatment.

Jan Øivind Svardal, CEO – Skarv Shipping Solutions, commented: “Our aim is to prove that it is possible to renew the European short-sea fleet while making it more climate-friendly. That means implementing a whole array of technologies.

“We see ammonia as one of the future fuels and are happy to see strong European companies like Wärtsilä leading the push towards carbon-free propulsion. The Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia solution promises exactly what we are looking for: robust safety and environmental measures combined with advanced energy efficient technology.”

Wärtsilä will supply the complete ammonia solution, including the Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia engine, AmmoniaPac Fuel Gas Supply System, the Wärtsilä Ammonia Release Mitigation System (WARMS), and a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system designed for ammonia.

With safety, efficiency, and reliability deemed to be central to the Finnish company’s solution design, total GHG emissions are expected to be reduced by at least 90% when running the engine on sustainable ammonia, compared to equivalent diesel engines.

As a result, this solution allows operators to meet current EU emissions targets for 2050 and exceed the IMO target for 2040. The Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia engine, available as part of the Wärtsilä 25 engine platform, was developed based on the company’s experience gained from low-pressure dual-fuel (DF) engines running on LNG.

The equipment delivery for this newbuild is scheduled to begin in Q4 2026. Ammonia has emerged as a promising alternative fuel and is forecast to play a significant role in achieving the net-zero-emissions target for 2050.

A report from Wärtsilä, ‘Sustainable fuels for shipping by 2050 – the 3 key elements of success,’ highlights the role that sustainable fuels will play in achieving the net-zero target, which is set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Based on the report, existing decarbonization solutions, such as fuel efficiency measures, could cut shipping emissions by up to 27%. As a result, sustainable fuels, such as ammonia, are seen as a critical step in eliminating the remaining 73%.

Roger Holm, President of Wärtsilä Marine & Executive Vice President at Wärtsilä Corporation, highlighted: “The Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia engine and the whole solution is the result of extensive research and testing over a number of years, in line with our commitment to decarbonising shipping operations.

“Through our focus on continuous improvement, we have developed the Wärtsilä 25 engine, along with our associated ammonia handling systems, to deliver outstanding levels of safety, efficiency, reliability and sustainability. This solution offers the marine industry a future-ready solution that is available today.”

Wärtsilä has secured multiple new deals, including the one to supply engines for Allseas’ new purpose-built semi-submersible heavy transport vessel (HTV), with readiness to use alternative sustainable fuels and a modular design.