MAN Energy Solutions has announced an agreement with Hapag-Lloyd, one of the world’s largest ocean carriers, to convert its 15,000 TEU container vessel ‘MV SAJIR’ to dual-fuel operation.
According to a statement, this vessel will be the first megaship retrofitted to run, at least partly, on liquefied natural gas (LNG), leading the way for further emissions reduction and decarbonization within the maritime sector.
The pilot project, which will be conducted at the Chinese Hudong shipyard, will involve the conversion of an existing heavy-fuel-oil-burning engine to a dual-fuel prime mover, able to run on both HFO and LNG.
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Wayne Jones, Chief Sales Officer at MAN, commented: “We are seeing great interest in this project from the industry as a whole. This is an excellent showcase for the conversion of a mega-container vessel to LNG and the potential benefits for the market is huge.
“With this announcement, MAN Energy Solutions is once again at the forefront of technology with our ability to execute LNG conversions for both four-stroke and two-stroke engines.”
Using LNG more widely within the shipping industry could potentially reduce carbon emissions by 15-20% and deplete the emission of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter by more than 90%.
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The Hapag-Lloyd pilot project is currently scheduled to take place in 2020, when MV SAJIR will spend 90 days in dock to undergo the engine conversion.
A new gas storage system approved by DNV GL will be installed as part of the project, occupying an area equivalent to 350 containers, including the pipework between storage and engine.
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Richard von Berlepsch, Managing Director of Fleet Management at Hapag-Lloyd, said: “With this unprecedented pilot, we hope to learn for the future and to pave the way for large ships to be retrofitted to use this alternative fuel.”
Jones added: “MAN Energy Solutions’ strategy is to provide complete, fully integrated solutions. Accordingly, MAN Cryo will install an entire gas system to supply gas to the main, as well as to the auxiliary engines, including a MAN Energy Solutions 300 bar high pressure Pump Vaporizer System (PVU).”