Methanol engine first for MAN

MAN Energy Solutions has won the order to supply what it calls the world’s first, low-speed, dual-fuel engine to run on methanol within the container segment.

Hyundai (HMD) will construct the 2100-teu vessel in Korea for A.P. Møller – Maersk, the global integrator of container logistics, while HHI-EMD will build the MAN B&W 6G50ME-LGIM (-Liquid Gas Injection Methanol) type – also in Korea. The engine will be Tier 3-compliant.

Upon launch, the newbuild will become the first methanol-powered vessel that doesn’t carry methanol as cargo, the company said. Mærsk has further announced that it expects the new vessel to be powered by green methanol with bio-fuel employed as pilot oil. The vessel is set to enter service in 2023 and will sail in the network of Sealand Europe—a Maersk company—the Baltic shipping route between Northern Europe and the Bay of Botnia.

“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.”

MAN Energy Solutions states 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 ME-series, with its approximately 5000 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, the company said.

Additionally, any operational switch between methanol and other fuels is designed to be seamless. Tests on the engine, when running on methanol, have recorded the same or a slightly better efficiency compared to conventional, HFO-burning engines, the company said.

MAN developed the ME-LGI engine in response to interest from the shipping world in operating on alternatives to heavy fuel oil. Methanol carriers have already operated at sea for many years using the engine, and, as such, the ME-LGIM has a proven trackrecord offering great reliability in combination with high fuel-efficiency.

Subscribe to our FREE e-newsletter