Fuel cells and LNG for RCCL orders

The two companies have signed a memorandum of agreement for the 200,000gt ships to be delivered in 2022 and 2024. Under the project name Icon they will join a new generation of LNG-fuelled cruise ships and are among the first planned commercial marine applications of fuel cell technology.

As reported, Meyer Turku parent group Meyer Werft is among several German partners working on the fuel cell technology project e4ships. Meyer Turku noted that because technology and the regulations are not yet ready for maritime fuel cell use, it will run pilot installations on other Meyer-built Royal Caribbean ships before they are installed on the Icon vessels.

Jan Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku, said: “We are grateful that Royal Caribbean engages with us in a new challenging journey to advance the state of maritime technology with a new class of cruise ships. Our common aim is to develop fuel cells to a level that allows their usage in a significant application to power the ship’s hotel functions.”

Fuel cells use oxygen and hydrogen – often extracted or converted from another fuel such as diesel or LNG – to produce electricity. Depending on the original fuel source they can offer a very low emission profile.

“With Icon class, we begin the journey to take the smoke out of our smokestacks”, said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean.

The new orders lengthen Meyer Turku’s order book until 2024, taking it to a record well beyond the previous high point of 2007-9, when the yard was building the Oasis and Allure series for Royal Caribbean.