Fincantieri signs agreement with Tui Cruises: from dual fuel to cutting emissions, here are the green ships

Fincantieri will build two more cruise ships for Tui Cruises, the joint venture between Tui Ag and Royal Caribbean Cruises. The two groups have in fact signed a contract for the design and construction of two new vessels that replaces the memorandum of understanding signed at the end of March with Tui Ag for the construction of two ships for the Marella Cruises brand. The units, to be delivered in 2031 and 2032 respectively, will be twins of the "Mein Schiff Relax" and "Mein Schiff Flow"..

But what features do the two new units have? Like the twins they will be powered by dual-fuel engines (liquefied gas and diesel) and will have a gross tonnage of around 160 thousand tonnes. The new ships will also be larger than those initially planned in the configuration for Marella Cruises and will be built to the latest environmental standards.

Like the units already ordered, the two ships will be equipped with catalytic converters (conforming to the Euro 6 standard) and a steam turbine using the waste heat from the diesel generators, as well as an electrical connection to the quay. All of this will ensure almost emission-free operation during port stops (about 40 per cent of the operational time). The ship will also be equipped with an innovative and efficient waste treatment system capable of transforming organic substances into recyclable components through a thermal process.

"We are delighted to extend our partnership with the Tui Cruises brand, further strengthening our relationship with both Tui and Royal Caribbean. This contract confirms the trust built up over time and the successful collaboration already started with the first two ships of the InTUItion class," commented Fincantieri's CEO, Pierroberto Folgiero. "It also confirms Fincantieri's ability to support the growth of the fleet of the world's leading cruise operators, combining innovation, sustainability and the excellence of Italian shipbuilding".