MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) has bagged the order for the first dual-fuel methanol engine for a containership from AP Moller-Maersk.
The MAN B&W 6G50ME-LGIM (Liquid Gas Injection Methanol) type engine will be installed on 2,100 teu containership ordered by Maersk at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard.
MAN ES said it expected the containership to be the first non-methanol carrier to have a methanol powered engine. While Maersk’s biggest competitors are opting for LNG as bridging fuel the Danish shipowner believes it can achieve greater gains in terms of decarbonisation by using green methanol as a fuel.
Bjarne Foldanger, Senior Vice President and Head of Two-Stroke Business, MAN Energy Solutions, praised Maersk’ vision in planning to use renewable methanol.
“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 ES already has eight methanol engines in operation and 12 more under construction – all for methanol carriers.
“Our other ME-LGIM references have proven methanol as a clean, efficient and safe, marine fuel that offers a clear path to decarbonisation 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,” Foldanger added.
Maersk plans to deploy the containership newbuilding in 2023 as part of its Sealand Europe fleet serving a Baltic shipping route between Nortern Europe and the Bay of Botnia.
Source: Seatrade Maritime
