COSCO to retrofit four vessels to dual-fuel methanol operation
08 December 2023
COSCO Heavy Industry Shanghai Co. Ltd. has signed a contract with MAN Energy Solutions for the methanol retrofit of four main engines from COSCO Line’s ‘Camellia’ and ‘Virgo’ -class vessels—13,800 and 20,000 teu respectively.
Currently equipped with single-fuel MAN B&W 11S90ME-C10.5 engines, the vessels will be retrofitted to dual-fuel MAN B&W 11S90ME-LGIM10.5 units capable of operating on fuel-oil or methanol, in the process becoming the first vessels in COSCO’s fleet to sail on methanol.
The contract also includes an option for the retrofit of an additional nine vessels from the line’s 20,000 teu ‘Virgo’ and ‘Pisces’ -classes. COSCO Heavy Industry Shanghai Co. Ltd. will act as complete turnkey solution provider for the COSCO Line retrofits.
MAN Energy Solutions will provide a solution package comprising engineering, parts, project management, onsite technical assistance at yard, sea-trial assistance and recertification service for the engine retrofits. To this end, the company has undertaken an R&D program and invested in a testbed to develop the S90-LGIM (Liquid Gas Injection Methanol) retrofit solution. The first vessel of the series is scheduled for retrofit in Q2 2025 when these vessels will also become the first fitted with S90-LGIM engines to sail the world’s oceans.
It’s very promising to see one of the largest shipping companies globally choosing MAN Energy Solutions as a partner to attain their decarbonisation goals. We are committed to bringing more retrofit solutions to the market and our investment in the S90-LGIM R&D and testbed programme is a fulfilment of this promise to our customers.
—Michael Petersen, Senior Vice President and Head of PrimeServ Denmark
The new order follows on the heels of the recent methanol retrofit order by A.P. Moller – Maersk for the retrofit of the G95 main engines aboard 11 of its container vessels to dual-fuel. More than 300 vessels globally are currently equipped with S90 engines and MAN Energy Solutions expects this new business to kick off a major wave of S90 retrofits.
Retrofitting an engine to dual-fuel operation is one of the most effective ways to drive greater efficiency and profitability from a fleet. A dual-fuel conversion gives the fuel flexibility to take advantage of optimal fuel prices, while making vessels compliant with IMO and local emission-control measures and legislation such as FuelEU—all leading to a greater return on investment.
The -LGIM retrofit solution, developed based on experience gained from -LGIM engines aboard methanol carriers operating at sea for multiple years, enables existing single-fuel vessels to operate as dual-fuel vessels. This fuel-flexibility, with the option of running on methanol, brings such benefits as lower CO2, particulate matter and SOx emissions.
I would like to see bio synthetic fuels and solid oxide fuel cells.
No combustion no pollution you get the carbon monoxide to make the synthetic
fuels from the cellulose, get rid of that horrible bunker fuel.
Posted by: SJC | 09 December 2023 at 08:12 AM