Mein Schiff 7, built in the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, is the world's first methanol-ready cruise ship. She was delivered on June 10, 2024, to TUI Cruises, a joint venture between the German TUI AG and the American Royal Caribbean Group. Mein Schiff 7 is the seventh ship in the Mein Schiff series and the first in the fleet equipped for methanol propulsion, marking a significant advancement in sustainable cruising.
TUI Cruises' Mein Schiff 7, the world's first methanol-ready cruise ship, embarked on her maiden voyage on June 12 last year. Built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, the 111,500-ton vessel features Uwira's double-walled pipes, designed to withstand the high operating pressures of methanol.
"Uwira successfully delivered double-walled methanol piping to the cruise ferry M/S Stena Germanica already a decade ago. Our solution has been proven effective, leading to our involvement in the Mein Schiff 7 project. This is a new, challenging area that is yet to be standardized, something that not all suppliers have ventured into. We are pleased our solution has generated interest and that we have had the opportunity to apply our solution to a project of this scale", says Uwira's Director of Development Thomas Hägglund.
High Pressure Requires Exceptional Expertise on all Fronts
Uwira's double-walled piping system features a thick inner pipe and protective outer pipe. The thick-walled high-pressure line is capable of withstanding pressures of up to 1,800 bar, guaranteeing the safe transfer of hazardous fluids. While Uwira has decades of experience in manufacturing double-walled pipes, the large-scale Mein Schiff 7 project was a true demonstration of the company's capabilities. Uwira's pipeline runs between the vessel's methanol tank and engine, withstanding an operating pressure of 600 bar along with the resulting substantial pressure vibrations.
"Welders handling these pipelines must have specific qualifications and experience. Pressure testing such pipelines is a complex task, for which we developed specialized testing equipment and implemented rigorous safety protocols. On top of this, the installations were carried out in a particularly demanding environment. Every work phase was executed with meticulous precision – a standard we uphold in every project we undertake at Uwira", says Uwira's Production Supervisor Jari Ossi, who oversaw the production of prefabricated components for the project.
When a project involves high-pressure fluids, thorough documentation is essential. Experts in delivering products to highly challenging environments such as nuclear power plants, Uwira is capable of providing the extensive documentation needed to ensure full traceability and superior quality.
"Extensive documentation on materials and manufacturing processes has long been a cornerstone of our operations. For Mein Schiff 7, we produced approximately 3,600 detailed documentation files. Delivering this level of comprehensive documentation is a capability that distinguishes us within the industry", says Quality Manager Ilkka Karjalainen.
Uwira's Methanol Solution Attracts Industry Interest
Tuomas Kärki, System Engineer at Meyer Turku, comments: "Despite tight schedules and working on the late production phase of the ship, the high-pressure pipelines were successfully installed and pressure-tested before delivering the vessel to the Owner. This was achieved through good cooperation between Uwira and yard outfitting, although of course with such complicated project, there were also challenging moments. We would like to thank Uwira for this successful project and give our special thanks to Uwira's team on site."
Uwira remains committed to advancing the green transition in maritime, providing pipeline solutions and modules for new fuels, such as methanol, LNG, ammonia and hydrogen. Methanol-readiness in particular is becoming a regular feature in future newbuilds.
"We have been in continuous dialogue with shipyards and engine manufacturers and are pleased to see our solution attracting significant interest. We are a forward-thinking methanol solution provider with a proven track record, ready to make our solution the industry standard."