Wärtsilä to power nine Grimaldi Group ferry newbuilds
Fuel-flexible engines, scrubbers and hybrid systems for RoPax ships at China’s Weihai yard
Technology group Wärtsilä will supply propulsion packages for nine ferry newbuildings being built for Grimaldi Group brands, part of a fleet-renewal programme centred on lower-emission operations. Four of the ships are for Grimaldi Lines, three for Finnlines and two for Minoan Lines, all under construction at China Merchants Heavy Industry's Weihai shipyard.
Every vessel will run on Wärtsilä's fuel-flexible 46F engines, which can operate on sustainable fuels such as methanol, giving operators a hedge as regulations tighten and alternative-fuel supply develops. Wärtsilä's hybrid exhaust scrubber systems will handle emissions compliance, while transverse thrusters support mooring. The engine, propulsion and scrubber orders were booked in 2025.
The three Finnlines vessels get an additional hybrid electric system to lift propulsion efficiency and cut fuel use, along with two gearboxes, two controllable pitch propellers with shaft lines and Wärtsilä's ProTouch remote propulsion control. Together these form a fully integrated power and propulsion package aimed at fuel savings and lower emissions.
Roger Holm, president of Wärtsilä Marine, said close cooperation with Grimaldi from the design phase allowed an integrated approach delivering future-proof, multi-fuel solutions. Finnlines runs RoPax ferries on the Helsinki-Travemünde route, Minoan Lines is a leading Greek passenger operator, and Grimaldi Lines links Sardinia, Sicily, Spain, Greece and Tunisia. Wärtsilä will deliver the equipment between 2026 and 2028.
