Ship engines and marine generating sets

Explore ship engines from Wärtsilä, a leading marine engine manufacturer. Or use the Engine configurator to identify the engine that meets your vessel’s exact power and feature needs.

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Ship engines and marine generating sets – efficient power for every vessel

Ship engines are the heart of your vessel’s performance. Wärtsilä ship engines and marine generating sets will deliver power, efficiency, and fuel flexibility for your fleet – for newbuilds and retrofit projects alike.

At a glance: Ship engines and marine generating sets

  • Wärtsilä is a leading marine engine manufacturer and the continuously developing portfolio covers all major ship engine types: main engines, auxiliary engines, and generating sets.
  • Our fuel-flexible ship engines are available in diesel, LNG dual-fuel or pure gas, methanol, ammonia dual-fuel, or methanol/ammonia-ready configurations.
  • Suitable for all vessel types: cruise ships, ferries, cargo ships, tankers, LNG carriers, offshore vessels, and more.
  • All Wärtsilä ship engines are efficient, reliable, IMO Tier III compliant and designed for future fuel flexibility.

Looking for marine generating sets?

Explore Wärtsilä generating sets

Marine engines and generating sets for every vessel type

Wärtsilä offers a complete range of ship engines and marine generating sets for propulsion and onboard power. Applications range from merchant vessels operating in environmentally sensitive areas to cruise liners, ferries, offshore oil and gas installations where gaseous fuel is available from the process, and everything in between.

Wärtsilä marine engines highlights

  • Ship main engines: Wärtsilä 46TS-DF, Wärtsilä 46F, Wärtsilä 34DF, Wärtsilä 32M, Wärtsilä 31, Wärtsilä 31DF, Wärtsilä 25, Wärtsilä 25DF, Wärtsilä 20, Wärtsilä 20DF – high-output, fuel-flexible, future-fuel ready platforms
  • Auxiliary generating sets: typically Wärtsilä 20, Wärtsilä 20DF, Wärtsilä 32M, or Wärtsilä 34DF – efficient onboard power for all vessel types. For detailed specifications and selection guidance, see our dedicated generating sets page.
  • Fuel options: Diesel and traditional liquid marine fuels, LNG, biofuels, methanol, ammonia
  • Compliance: IMO Tier III *, optimised for greenhouse gas emissions reduction and methane slip reduction
  • Applications: Ferries, RoPax vessels, cargo ships, tankers, LNG carriers and bunkering vessel, offshore vessels, cruise ships, and more

*) with Wärtsilä NOR in diesel mode.

How to choose your engine

Choosing the right engine matters because it affects the vessel’s performance, emissions, and total cost of ownership.

Start by using our Engine configurator to identify the best fit for your vessel’s exact power and feature needs. And regardless of configuration, you will benefit from Wärtsilä’s proven technology, fuel flexibility, and global service support.

Our complete ship engine portfolio

Wärtsilä is among the world’s leading ship engine manufacturers, offering a wide selection of engine types - including diesel, dual-fuel, methanol, and ammonia solutions - for every vessel application.

Engine family

NOTE! Typical applications are the most common ones: the engine can be the most suitable for other applications as well.

Key features

  • Compact and lightweight with low emission levels
  • Diesel
  • Dual-fuel

Typical applications

  • Perfect auxiliary generating set for PCTC car carriers and other vessel types that require reliable and cost-efficient onboard power
  • Propulsion power for tugs and smaller OSVs.

Key features

  • Diesel
  • Dual-fuel
  • Ammonia
  • Compact with outstanding fuel efficiency
  • NextDF for record-low methane slip

Typical applications

  • Short-sea merchants
  • PSVs
  • LNG BVs
  • Wärtsilä 25 hybrid propulsion offers best fuel economy and lowest emissions for small merchant vessels.

Key features

  • Diesel
  • Dual-fuel
  • Pure gas
  • Best fuel economy in its class
  • Silent
  • NextDF for record-low methane slip

Typical applications

  • Cruise ships
  • Ferries
  • Fishing vessels
  • Merchants
  • For large LNG carriers, hybrid-electric propulsion with Wärtsilä 31DFs and 31SGs brings 6% more cargo space

Key features

  • Diesel
  • Methanol-ready and methanol versions
  • Methanol-ready version gives you freedom to decide on the pace of your decarbonisation

Typical applications

  • Drillrigs
  • Dredgers
  • Tugs
  • Perfect auxiliary for methanol-powered vessels 

Key features

  • Dual-fuel
  • High efficiency and optimised power output for auxiliary applications
  • EnviroPac feature for lower methane slip

Typical applications

Key features

  • High power density
  • Both diesel and dual-fuel
  • Supports a wide range of fuels

Typical applications

  • Large ferries
  • Ro-ro vessels
  • Dredgers

Key features

  • High output and high fuel efficiency
  • Dual-fuel
  • NextDF for record-low methane slip

Typical applications

  • Large cruise ships
  • Large ferries
  • Large merchant vessels

Add-ons to engines

Key features

  • Optimised nitrogen oxides (NOx) reduction with noise abatement
  • Can be integrated with additional silencers
  • Ready for future fuels
  • Optimally scheduled and planned installation onboard together with the engine(s) ensures timely delivery

Typical applications

  • Efficient emissions after-treatment for all Wärtsilä engines running in diesel mode

Key features

  • Maximum compatibility to minimise building and operating costs for a specific combination of main and auxiliary engines

Typical applications

  • For Wärtsilä ship main engines and diesel generating sets

Every Wärtsilä ship engine and generating set and their auxiliary components are engineered for optimal performance, fuel flexibility, and compliance with the latest marine regulations.

Wärtsilä also offers a complete portfolio of marine generating sets and auxiliary engines for every vessel type.

Why choose Wärtsilä ship engines?

As one of the world’s leading marine engine manufacturers, Wärtsilä delivers proven reliability, innovation, and support for ship owners worldwide.

  • Industry-leading fuel efficiency: Wärtsilä engines set benchmarks for low fuel consumption, which cuts operating costs and reduces emissions. Advanced combustion and digital monitoring ensure optimal performance across all load conditions.
  • Proven compliance and emissions control: IMO Tier III compatible. Diesel engines and dual-fuel engines running in diesel mode are complemented with an integrated Wärtsilä NOR® NOx reducer.  Equipped with advanced technologies to minimise greenhouse gas emissions and methane slip.
  • Fuel flexibility: Engines available in LNG, diesel, methanol, ammonia, or methanol/ammonia-ready configurations.
  • Lifecycle reliability: Proven uptime with extended overhaul intervals and predictive maintenance for maximum uptime. Global service network.
  • Future-proof technology: Engines designed for transition to low-carbon fuels. Modular upgrades for alternative fuels and compliance retrofits.
  • Proven innovation and performance: Wärtsilä ship engines are designed based on the knowledge and experience accumulated over years of successful operation.

As a result, you can achieve the lowest possible total cost of ownership while making your vessel or fleet future-proof. You can be prepared for the evolving fuel choices and regulatory requirements.

How to choose the right engine

Selecting the right ship engine is about more than just meeting defined power output needs. For the best long-term results, compare engines based on real-world fuel efficiency and make sure your engine is ready for future fuels and emissions regulations.

You should also check that the engine is sized and designed for your vessel’s needs. Look for proven reliability, easy installation, and support options that keep your vessel running efficiently today and in the future.

When looking for the right engine, you should consider:

  • Fuel efficiency: Compare real-world fuel consumption across all loads, not just at one power setting. Ask for verified energy consumption data to be able to transparently compare data from different engine manufacturers.
  • Right-sizing: Select an engine that matches your vessel’s power needs—avoid oversizing. Consider a hybrid setup for higher total efficiency.
  • Service and maintenance costs: Make sure all maintenance items are included in cost estimates for a true comparison.
  • Time between overhauls: Ask about predictive maintenance and how often the engine needs major service.
  • Future fuels and emissions: Choose an engine that’s ready for alternative fuels and tightening emissions regulations.
  • Ease of installation and maintenance: Look for modular design and clear instructions to save time and reduce downtime.
  • Reliability and support: Consider the manufacturer’s track record and available lifecycle agreements.

Need help deciding? Use our engine configurator and talk to our experts for tailored guidance.

Ship engine references: proven Wärtsilä deployments

Leading operators worldwide have already put their trust on Wärtsilä ship engines. A wide range of vessels ranging from ferries and LNG carriers to offshore and cruise ships are powered by our innovative engines.

Explore the carousel to learn real-world examples of Wärtsilä ship engines bringing benefits in efficiency, sustainability, and compliance.

  • Louis Dreyfus Armateurs new RoRo vessel
    Louis Dreyfus Armateurs

    Methanol engines mean big cuts in emissions for Louis Dreyfus Armateurs‘ RoRos

    Read more about methanol engines
  • Van Oord

    Van Oord is accelerating the energy transition with its green ship fleet. Why did they choose methanol for their new offshore wind installation vessel?

    Read more why they choose methanol
  • Erik Thun AB

    Erik Thun Group’s four coastal tankers benefit from the Wärtsilä 25 engine and can achieve high environmental performance in the long term.

    Learn more
  • detail image of cruise liner with rescue boats
    Royal Caribbean Group

    When Royal Caribbean Group became the first customer for the new Wärtsilä 46TS-DF engine, they knew the rewards it could bring. But what was needed to make sure that the engine’s full potential could be realised?

    Open the case study
  • Fure Viten

    With a range of integrated Wärtsilä solution onboard, Swedish tanker Fure Viten has already surpassed the IMO’s 2050 emissions targets.

    Read more about energy-saving devices
  • Le Commandant Charcot

    Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s only luxury icebreaker, uses the Wärtsilä 31DF engines for sustainable polar exploration

    Read more about Wärtsilä 31DF engine with hybrid operation
  • SAL Heavy Lift

    Wärtsilä hybrid propulsion system with methanol engine to power four future-proof heavy lift vessels

    Discover the Wärtsilä 32 methanol engine
  • Tugs Jin Gang Lun 31 & 32

    The Jin Gang Lun 31 and 32 are the first two tugs in Tianjin Port powered by a set of Wärtsilä’s highly efficient W20 engines.

    Read more about the Wärtsilä 20 engine

Frequently asked questions

What types of ship engines does Wärtsilä offer?

Wärtsilä is a leading ship engine manufacturer and provides a complete portfolio of modern ship engines and marine generating sets for propulsion and onboard power. Our range includes

  • diesel engines
  • dual-fuel engines
  • engines ready for methanol and ammonia.

Wärtsilä engines deliver reliable power and first-class efficiency, and there is a suitable engine for an extremely wide range of vessel types and applications.

Popular engine families include Wärtsilä 46TS-DF, Wärtsilä 46F, Wärtsilä 34DF, Wärtsilä 32M, Wärtsilä 31(DF), Wärtsilä 25(DF), and Wärtsilä 20(DF). 

Which Wärtsilä engines are suitable for my vessel type?

The right engine choice depends on vessel size, operating profile, and fuel strategy.

Wärtsilä offers engine solutions for a wide range of vessel types. For example:

  • cruise ships
  • ferries
  • short-sea vessels
  • large cargo ships
  • container ships
  • tankers
  • LNG carriers
  • bunkering vessels
  • fishing vessels
  • offshore vessels
  • tugboats
  • dredgers

Use our Engine configurator to find the best match for your needs.

Are Wärtsilä ship engines compliant with IMO Tier III and future regulations?

Yes. Wärtsilä ship engines meet IMO Tier III requirements in gas mode without selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and in diesel mode with Wärtsilä NOR NOx reducer. They incorporate advanced greenhouse gas reduction technologies, including methane slip control.

Wärtsilä ship engines are ready for the future because they are designed for modular upgrades to future fuels. This means that they are compliant today and can be adapted later to meet future regulations.

Can Wärtsilä engines run on alternative fuels like LNG, methanol, or ammonia?

Absolutely. Wärtsilä engines are designed for fuel flexibility. Many models can operate on LNG, methanol, and ammonia or be upgraded for these fuels, helping you future proof your fleet and reduce emissions.

How do I choose the right Wärtsilä engine for my newbuild or retrofit project?

Start by considering the following factors that matter most for your vessel’s lifetime performance:

  • Fuel efficiency across all operating loads
  • Compliance with IMO Tier III and readiness for future regulations
  • Fuel flexibility for LNG, methanol, ammonia, and biofuels – based on your fuel availability and accessibility
  • Lifecycle costs including maintenance and overhaul intervals

Wärtsilä makes engine selection easier with expert guidance and digital tools. Use our Engine configurator to match your vessel’s power and fuel needs—or contact our specialists for tailored advice.

 

Ready to choose the right engine?

Your vessel’s fuel availability and operating profile guide the choice of engine. Wärtsilä offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of ship engines and marine generating sets. You can choose from diesel, LNG dual-fuel or pure gas, methanol, ammonia dual-fuel, or methanol/ammonia-ready configurations.

Proven technology, fuel flexibility, and expert support from us help you make the smartest decision for your newbuild or retrofit.

 

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