LNG Powered Fishing Vessel In The Works

MAN Diesel & Turbo will provide a complete propulsion package and fuel-gas system for the what it calls world’s first fishing vessel with liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion.

The Libas, a 86-m newbuilding purse-seiner, will be built by Cemre Shipyard in Istanbul. It will incorporate a MAN 6L51/60DF main engine, Renk gearbox, MAN Alpha propeller system and MAN Cryo LNG fuel-gas system with a 350 m³ tank. Liegruppen, the Norwegian fishing group, has ordered the vessel, while compatriot, Salt Ship Design, has provided the design.

“This is a pioneering project,” said Wayne Jones, chief sales officer with MAN Diesel & Turbo. “At MAN we are convinced that low-emission gas fuels are the silver bullet to decarbonizing the shipping industry and we have made it our mission to guide our customers through that transition.”

The delivery of the new LNG-propulsion package is part of MAN’s wide-ranging engagement for the establishment of LNG as a shipping fuel. Calling for a ‘Maritime Energy Transition’ the company considers the use of natural gases as the fuels of choice in global shipping as the most promising way to supporting the goal of a climate-neutral shipping industry. Launched in 2016 after COP 21, MAN’s initiative has since found broad support within the shipping industry and politics.

“This is a very noteworthy win,” said Lex Nijsen, head of Four-Stroke Marine, MAN Diesel & Turbo. “Our ability to provide this efficient, low-emission, proven LNG-fuelled propulsion package – a world’s first for this environmentally sensitive segment – really puts our credentials as a system provider on display.”

MAN Diesel & Turbo said its customers benefit from an industry leading portfolio of solutions and products to help make that fuel-switch. “We offer a full system approach with regards to gas propulsion,” Nijsen said. “This includes new builds as much as retrofits of existing vessels. In 2017 MAN has retrofitted the world’s first container vessel to LNG and more projects are being realized as we speak.”