Posted on July 29, 2021
MAN Energy Solutions has won the order to supply the world’s first, low-speed, dual-fuel engine to run on methanol in the container segment. It will power the carbon neutral, methanol fueled 2,100 TEU containership just ordered by A.P. Møller – Maersk.
The ship is on order at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Korea and, on delivery, will become the very first, methanol-powered vessel that doesn’t carry methanol as cargo.
Mærsk expects the new vessel to operate on green methanol with bio-fuel employed as pilot oil.
The ship’s MAN B&W 6G50ME-LGIM (Liquid Gas Injection Methanol), Tier III compliant engine will be built in Korea by HHI-EMD, which already has extensive experience with LGIM engines (8 engines in operation and 12 engines under construction for methanol carriers).
“Maersk is displaying great leadership in adopting renewable methanol as part of its decarbonization strategy—and well ahead of its initial 2030-ambition,” said Bjarne Foldager, Senior Vice President and Head of Two-Stroke Business, MAN Energy Solutions. “For our part, we are designing dual-fuel technology that meets the growing customer demand for sustainable shipping chains and, here, our ME-LGIM engine plays an important role. It’s particularly pleasing to see it make its debut within the important container segment.”
Foldager continued: “Our other ME-LGIM references have proven methanol as a clean, efficient and safe, marine fuel that offers a clear path to decarbonization through significant greenhouse-gas reductions, when produced from renewable energy sources. In general, as we move towards a zero-carbon future, MAN Energy Solutions’ dual-fuel engine portfolio is well positioned to handle whatever alternative fuels the market brings.”
MAN Energy Solutions reports that its low-speed, dual-fuel references now exceed 408 units, with the ME-GI recording over 1.7 million operating hours on LNG alone, while the ME-LGI platform has accumulated more than 110,000 dual-fuel running hours.
ABOUT THE MAN B&W ME-LGIM ENGINE
MAN Energy Solutions developed the ME-LGIM dual-fuel engine for operation on methanol, as well as conventional fuel. The engine is based on the company’s proven ME-series, with its approximately 5,000 engines in service, and works according to the Diesel principle. When operating on methanol, the ME-LGIM significantly reduces emissions of CO2, NOx and SOx.
Additionally, any operational switch between methanol and other fuels is seamless. Tests on the engine, when running on methanol, have recorded the same or a slightly better efficiency compared to conventional, HFO-burning engines.
