Hapag-Lloyd Orders Mega-Container Vessel Retrofit to LNG
MAN Energy Solutions has signed a contract for the conversion of Hapag-Lloyd’s 15,000TEU container vessel MV Sajir to dual-fuel operation. The pilot project will entail the conversion of an existing, HFO-burning MAN B&W 9S90ME-C engine to a dual-fuel MAN B&W ME-GI (-Gas Injection) prime mover capable of running on HFO and LNG. The retrofit will be done at the Chinese Hudong/HRDD shipyard, specialised in ship repair and conversion.
Wayne Jones OBE, Chief Sales Officer and Member of the Executive Board, MAN Energy Solutions, says, “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.”
The emission savings for MAN B&W two-stroke engines are significant when converting an existing HFO engine to LNG. Using LNG in the shipping industry could reduce CO2 emissions by 15 to 20% and sulphur dioxide and particulate matter by more than 90%.
“By converting Sajir, we will be the first shipping company to retrofit a container ship of this size to LNG propulsion”, says Richard von Berlepsch, Managing Director Fleet Management at Hapag-Lloyd. “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.”
The Hapag-Lloyd pilot project is scheduled to take place in 2020 when the five-year old vessel will spend 90 days in dock. The DNV-GL approved gas-storage system will occupy an area equivalent to 350 containers, including the pipework between storage and engine.
Mr Jones adds, “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).”