Monday, February 17, 2025

Engine Technology News

Image courtesy Caterpillar Marine

With CAT’s Methanol Engines, Sustainable Shipping is Possible

Recently, MarineNews sat down with Will Watson, Caterpillar Marine’s Product Manager, to discuss its rapidly emerging methanol engine development. Caterpillar Marine has already taken a considerable step forward in sustainability by planning to offer an upgrade kit for its methanol-fueled, dual-fuel Cat 3500E series engines. The immediate and long-term goal is to quicken the maritime industry transition to renewable energy.The initiative, announced at an international tug & salvage trade event…

Source: Scandlines

Scandlines to Convert Rostock-Gedser Ferries to Methanol

In its sustainability report, Scandlines committed to ferry operations with zero direct emissions by 2040.In support of this, the ferry company has signed an MoU with Caterpillar Motoren to explore the possibilities of converting the current MaK diesel of the Rostock-Gedser hybrid ferries to run on e-methanol. The use of e-methanol produced from renewable energy sources can reduce CO2 emissions by 95% under ideal circumstances.Scandlines already combines three technologies on the Rostock-Gedser route: traditional diesel operation, battery operation and wind power.

In May this year, the world’s first methanol-powered tug, Methatug, entered operation in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
Source: Port of Antwerp Bruges

When it Comes to Workboat Engines, the Future is Flexible

Vessel owners are making new fuel choices, but increasingly, they have options to help reduce the risk of doing so.The latest engine developments aim to make it easier for owners to avoid the chicken-and-egg fuel price and availability risks of new fuels.As Roger Holm, President of Wärtsilä Marine and Executive Vice President at Wärtsilä Corporation recently pointed out, the challenge is that owners won’t commit to a fuel today that is expensive, only produced in small quantities and may be usurped by another fuel that scales faster and more affordably.

The CMT Scuffing Sensor monitoring a containership’s engine cylinder wear. Image courtesy CM Technologies

New Product: Cylinder Scuffing Detection Tool

Ships trials reportedly confirmed that CM Technologies’ new scuffing sensor can detect early onset cylinder wear in marine diesel engines. Trials onboard a number of large containerships and a two-stroke engine Baltic ferry showed it was possible to measure the friction in the cylinder when the engine is running.CMT noted a trend in cylinder liner scuffing following the widespread use of 0-0.50% low sulphur fuel (LSF). These fuels together with insufficient or over lubrication…

Source: CMT

New Technology Offers Early, Rapid Detection of Cylinder Liner Wear

Condition monitoring solutions company CM Technologies (CMT) has developed new tools to assess the condition of lubricating oils and cylinder liners.The company’s new WBS IR Analyser is an advanced all-in-one infrared-based solution designed to assess the Base Number, soot and water content of cylinder and system oils, while the new CMT Scuffing Sensor can detect sudden and severe wear of the engine’s cylinder liners and piston rings well before other systems can see it.“Modern…

(Credit: WinGD)

WinGD and CMA CGM to Trial Dual-Fuel Engine Tech at Sea

Swiss marine power company WinGD has teamed up with global shipping line CMA CGM to test its Variable Compression Ratio (VCR) technology for dual-fuel engines onboard one of CMA CGM’s vessels.The collaboration marks the first field test for the new dual-fuel engine technology and follows successful factory tests showing significant efficiency improvements with both diesel and LNG fuel.The CMA CGM project comprises a long-term, full-scale test to confirm operability and reliability.Onboard testing is expected to begin following the dry-docking of the vessel in September…

© NAN / Adobe Stock

MMMCZCS Calls for Early Regulation of Methane Slip

The Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) has released a new report: Tackling methane slip in shipping.Past research at the MMMCZCS has demonstrated that current regulations that include methane, such as CO2-equivalent fuel standards (e.g., FuelEU Maritime), will have a limited effect on reducing onboard methane emissions in the short- to mid-term. Furthermore, the default methane slip value concept does not provide a direct incentive to engine makers…

(File image: Wärtsilä)

Wärtsilä to Deliver Its First Ammonia Ship Engine in Early 2025

Ship engine manufacturer Wärtsilä expects to deliver its first ammonia-fueled engine on a new vessel in early 2025, with more widespread sales expected in the 2030s, a company executive told Reuters.Ammonia is among several alternative fuels that shippers are exploring to reduce carbon emissions.The company launched its first ammonia four-stroke engine for orders in the fourth quarter last year, with the first such engine to be delivered early next year on a vessel, Roger Holm…

(Image: MAN Energy Solutions)

Adapted ME-GI Gas Engine Runs on Hydrogen

MAN Energy Solutions’ licensee, MITSUI E&S Co. Ltd., has announced that it has successfully tested a 50-bore MAN B&W two-stroke engine up to 100% load at its Tamano facility while running on hydrogen, a world-first for the maritime industry.In collaboration with MAN Energy Solutions, MITSUI converted one of the four cylinders of an MAN B&W ME-GI (-Gas Injection) engine to hydrogen operation. The hydrogen was supplied from a hydrogen gas-supply system that MITSUI developed in 2023.Stable operation was achieved at various loads and operating conditions…

Image courtesy Wabtec

Marine Power R&D Insights: Matt Hart, Wabtec Corporation

Matt Hart, Manager & Platform Leader, Marine & Stationary Power Systems, Wabtec, offers insights on how the megatrends of decarbonization, energy transition and autonomy all inspire and impact the marine power solutions from Wabtec.Matt, to start us off, can you provide insight on the journey to your present position?I graduated from the University of Notre Dame with an undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering and started with General Electric in the Edison Engineering Development rotational program at the Erie…

Icon of the Seas (Photo: Royal Caribbean International)

World's Largest Cruise Ship Sets Sail, Bringing Concerns About Methane Emissions

The world's largest cruise ship is set for its maiden voyage on Saturday, but environmental groups are concerned that the liquefied natural gas-powered vessel - and other giant cruise liners to follow - will leak harmful methane into the atmosphere.Royal Caribbean International's Icon of the Seas sets sail from Miami with capacity for 8,000 passengers across 20 decks, taking advantage of the surging popularity of cruises.The ship is built to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), which burns more cleanly than traditional marine fuel but poses greater risks for methane emissions.

(Image: Hanwha Ocean)

Naftomar Shipping Orders Four Ammonia-powered VLGCs

Shipowner Naftomar Shipping announced an order for four very large ammonia carriers, to be built by South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean (formerly known as Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering) for scheduled delivery from 2026. With a capacity of 93,000 m3, the ships are among the world’s largest ammonia carriers ordered to date.The Bureau Veritas (BV) classed ships will be fitted with a ME-LGIP LPG dual-fuel engine, ready to be converted to use ammonia as fuel when the MAN ES ammonia engine retrofit kit is made available.

Photo courtesy Wabtec

Maritime Propulsion: The NSMV Power Play

The quest to build a series of five National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMVs), which will serve as training ships for five U.S. maritime academies, has drawn a broad cadre of suppliers. The powerplant was a main focus, helping to evolve the schools from steam power plants to a modern propulsion package.NSMVs being built for the maritime academies is widely lauded as a ‘win’ for U.S. shipbuilding, an example of commercial shipbuilding practices applied to a government shipbuilding project.

Front (L-R): Carmelo Cartalemi (WinGD, General Manager Global Sales),  Chando Park (KSS Line, CEO)

Back: (L-R) Jaeyun Kim (WinGD Korea, Sales Manager), Kwangsu Ra (KSS Line, Gas Team Leader), Euigap Lee (KSS Line, Head of Marine Affairs Division), Byungsam Ahn (WinGD Korea, Managing Director), Jungsik Park (WinGD Korea, Sr. General Manager)

WinGD and KSS Line Collaborate on Dual-Fuel Ammonia Engines for Gas Carriers

Swiss marine power company WinGD has signed a memorandum of understanding with KSS Line to explore X-DF-A engines for future newbuild projects. The companies will focus on 52cm- and 62cm-bore versions of the dual-fuel ammonia engines, suitable for midsize and very large gas carriers (VLGC). The scope of the cooperation will extend beyond engine technology, also focusing on the performance and maintenance solutions necessary for using alternative fuel. The partners will also explore…

Source: Furetank

Furetank and Wärtsilä Advance Engine Technology to Reduce Methane Slip

Wärtsilä and Swedish shipping company Furetank are co-developing and testing two technologies showing the potential to halve the methane slip.Running vessels on LNG or bio-LNG reduces emissions of CO2, NOx, SOx and harmful particles, but the downside is methane slip: the release of unburned gas fuel, not fully combusted in the engines.Although the fraction released is small, methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2.Two technical solutions have been tested in Furetank’s Vinga series tankers.

Marcel Ott (Source: WinGD)

WinGD Enhances Fuel-Flexible Efficiency with Variable Compression Ratio

Swiss marine power company WinGD has introduced a core engine technology that eliminates the need for ship operators to compromise on optimal combustion when using multiple fuels.Variable Compression Ratio (VCR), jointly developed with Mitsui E&S DU Co (MESDU), will be installed on a vessel powered by an X62DF engine and then rolled out across selected engines of the X-DF engine portfolio.An engine’s compression ratio is usually a fixed parameter, playing a direct role in power and fuel efficiency.

© Shawn Hempel / Adobe Stock

Japanese OEMs to Jointly Develop Hydrogen Engines

Kawasaki Motors, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Honda Motor, and Yamaha Motor have received approval from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to form a technological research association called HySE (Hydrogen Small mobility & Engine technology).The partners will develop hydrogen-powered engines for motorcycles, Japan-originated mini-vehicles, small marine vessels, construction equipment and drones.The use of hydrogen poses technical challenges, including fast flame speed and a large region of ignition…

This is what one of Skarv Shipping Solutions' ships could look like. The vessels will potentially have a 90 per cent reduction in emissions compared to similar traditional ships. Ill. NORTHWEST3D

Skarv Gets Enova Funding for Three Ammonia-fueled Ships

The Norwegian government is providing financial support for the construction of three cargo ships that will run emissions-free along the Norwegian coast.Enova, a Norwegian government enterprise promoting the use of clean energy, said it is providing NOK 130 million to Skarv Shipping Solutions AS for the acquisition of three cargo ships that will run on batteries, ammonia engines, rotor sails and energy-saving hull design. The vessels will potentially have a 90% reduction in emissions compared to similar traditional ships."Enova supports those who go ahead.