Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Gas Operation News

Source: Wärtsilä

Spark Gas Conversion Reduces Methane Slip on LNG Carriers

Wärtsilä has introduced a new methane slip reduction solution for its Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engine. The new technology, which converts Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel (DF) engines to spark gas operation, enables a more optimized combustion process, thereby improving efficiency and lowering methane emissions.Whilst operating on LNG, the conversion is designed to reduce methane emissions up to 75% more than the standard Wärtsilä 50DF engine.The spark gas conversion minimizes methane emissions…

View from the testbed in Frederikshavn courtesy of MAN

Oxidation Catalyst Project Aims for 70% Methane Slip Reduction

MAN Energy Solutions has announced that it is developing an oxidation catalyst for four-stroke engines that will significantly reduce methane slip. Called ‘IMOKAT II’ and developed at MAN Energy Solutions’ headquarters in Augsburg, Germany, the research project is currently undergoing testing at the company’s Frederikshavn, Denmark facility.Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economics and Climate Action, the new project will investigate the operational experience of a pre-turbo methane-oxidation catalyst…

(Image: MAN Energy Solutions)

MAN ME-GI Engines Ordered for 10 Seaspan Box Ships

Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group has ordered 10 MAN B&W 7G80ME-C10.5-GI engines in connection with the construction of 10 7,000-teu containerships for Seaspan Corporation, the world's largest, independent container vessel owner.The contract includes an option for five further vessels. Engine delivery is scheduled from October 2023 to 2024; Seaspan has  already chartered the ships on long-term contracts.Upon completion, the newbuildings will become the largest ME-GI-powered container vessels built by a Chinese shipyard.Thomas S.

The MAN B&W ME-GA engine pictured at MAN Energy Solutions’ Research Center Copenhagen (Photo: MAN Energy Solutions)

World-first ME-GA Engine Demonstrated in Copenhagen

MAN Energy Solutions has has demonstrated its latest low-speed, dual-fuel engine—an MAN B&W ME-GA type designed for liquefied natural gas (LNG)/fuel-oil running—at a ceremony live-streamed from its Copenhagen Research Center on Thursday. The new engine is an Otto-cycle variant of the company’s ME-GI engine.As its pre-mixed combustion results in low NOx emissions, the ME-GA engine is inherently Tier II and Tier III compliant in gas-operation mode. To fully utilize its dual-fuel potential in Tier III areas…

CSSC Marine Service completed the first X-DF overhaul in nine days. (Photo: CSSC Marine Service Co)

CMS Completes First Major WinGD X-DF Engine Overhaul

China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) equipment service subsidiary CSSC Marine Service Co (CMS) said it has completed the first ever major overhaul on two WinGD X-DF engines—in only nine days.The twin 6X62DF engines overhauled belong to the first ever X-DF powered vessel in operation, 2017-built 180,000-cbm liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier SK Audace, owned and operated by SK Shipping Co. LTD. The work was performed while the ship was at the Sabine Pass anchorage in Texas.In the three years since vessel delivery…

WinGD’s dual-fuelled X92DF engine, the first in a series that will power nine ULCS for CMA CGM Group (Photo: WinGD)

WinGD’s Dual-fuel 12X92DF Engine Gains BV Type Approval

The biggest and most powerful liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled engine ever built has received type approval from classification society Bureau Veritas (BV), Switzerland-based engine manufacturer Winterthur Gas & Diesel (WinGD) said on Wednesday.BV awarded the approval for WinGD’s dual-fueled 12X92DF engines, the first series of which is currently being built by China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) and will power nine ultra-large container ships (ULCS) -- the largest ever powered…

The ‘Samuel de Champlain‘ (picture courtesy Dragages-Ports)

First European Dual-Fuel Dredger Conversion

Damen Shiprepair & Conversion has signed off on the conversion of a dredger to dual-fuel operation on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine gas oil (MGO), and which is powered by MAN 35/44DF engines.The conversion of the ‘Samuel de Champlain’ is the first of its kind in Europe and is part of an EU-supported initiative to promote LNG propulsion in short-sea vessels operating along the European Atlantic coast.The 117m, 8,500m³ trailing suction hopper dredger is owned by Rouen-based GIE Dragages-Ports and operated by Port of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire.

The 15,000 TEU megaboxer MV SAJIR to be converted to methane for operation (©Hapag-Lloyd)

Marine Fuel: World First for Megaboxer MV Sajir

"With the conversion of SAJIR, we are the first shipping company worldwide to convert a container vessel of this size to natural gas propulsion."  Richard von Berlepsch, Managing Director Fleet Management at Hapag-LloydIn its more than 170 years of existence, the Hamburg-based Hapag Lloyd  has used all kinds of solid and liquid fuels to generate energy for the propulsion of its ships. And now the shipping company has announced that it intends to convert the propulsion system of its 15…

Photo: WinGD

WinGD Celebrates Milestone Order for 100th X-DF Engine

Only five years after the launch of the X-DF engine, WinGD has announced they have secured an order for their 100th X-DF engine. The award-winning technology developed by WinGD has demonstrated, on tests and engines currently in operation, that it offers stable combustion, inherently low NOx and greenhouse gas emissions and high overall system efficiencies as well as reliable and safe gas operation. GasLog LTD, one of the early supporters of the X-DF technology, has eight LNG carriers, each with 2x 5X72DF main engines in its fleet with three new builds recently entering commercial operations.

Wes Amelie is now driven by a 7,800 kW MAN 8L51/60DF main engine. (Photo: Wessels Reederei)

Inside the World's First LNG Containership Conversion

The world’s first container feeder vessel refit to use natural gas was commissioned in late August in Bremerhaven, ushering in a new era in the use of alternative fuels across the global maritime sector. The container vessel Wes Amelie, owned by Wessels Reederei, Haren/Ems, was converted for the use of methane as a standard fuel at the German Dry Docks Shipyard in Bremerhaven, making it the world’s first of its kind vessel which consumes environmentally friendly methane. This conversion is more than simply another environmentally advanced ship…

“Our Wes Amelie is now the worldwide first retrofit of a container vessel from heavy fuel to natural gas,” said Gerd Wessels in the Maritime Reporter article. Photo: PPM News Service Maritim

Wessels Reederei Takes the Lead on LNG Conversions

The move toward LNG as fuel is gaining momentum quickly, driven not only by newbuild installations but now by companies signing on to convert existing ships to the environmentally friendly solution. Germany's Wessels Reederei -- which was the first company in the world to convert a containership to LNG fuel, signed a letter of intent with MAN Diesel & Turbo regarding the conversion of three of its fleet to dual-fuel gas operation. The three ships are sisters to the Wes Amelie…

HEINZMANN leads in dual-fuel retrofit of marine propulsion engine

The use of LNG in marine applications is becoming increasingly common. It offers a big potential in terms of operating costs and emission reduction. Diesel engines converted to dual-fuel show considerably reduced emissions in case of high conversion ratios. Depending on the emission standard which is required, expensive and unwieldy exhaust aftertreatment systems can become unnecessary or their implementation costs are significantly lower. The engine performance is comparable to gas engines.

Marine Propulsion Technology: Two-Stroke DF Engine Passes Critical Test

The first Wärtsilä low-speed two-stroke dual-fuel (DF) engine destined for a commercial application has reportedly completed its Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) at a Chinese licensee of Winterthur Gas & Diesel (WinGD), the Switzerland-based designer, developer and licensor of Wärtsilä brand low-speed two-stroke engines. The engine is a five cylinder, 50 cm bore 5RT-flex50DF built by Yuchai Marine Power Co., Ltd. (YCMP) at its factory in Doumen, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, in the South of the People’s Republic of China.

Terntank's first 15000DWT Chemical Tanker Passes Sea Trials

The first dual-fuel two-stroke engine employing the low-pressure X-DF gas admission technology developed by Winterthur Gas & Diesel (WinGD) has passed the final milestone in its evolution from a technical concept to commercial operation as a marine main engine. The 5-cylinder, 500 mm bore, Wärtsilä RT-flex50DF engine employing X-DF technology is installed as the main engine driving a single propeller in the Ternsund, a low emissions 15,000 DWT chemical tanker. Ternsund was undertaken by AVIC International Ship Development (China) Co., Ltd.

Two-Stroke DF Engine Passes Critical Test

The first Wärtsilä low-speed two-stroke dual-fuel (DF) engine destined for a commercial application has reportedly completed its Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) at a Chinese licensee of Winterthur Gas & Diesel (WinGD), the Switzerland-based designer, developer and licensor of Wärtsilä brand low-speed two-stroke engines. The engine is a five cylinder, 50 cm bore 5RT-flex50DF built by Yuchai Marine Power Co., Ltd. (YCMP) at its factory in Doumen, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, in the South of the People’s Republic of China.

MTU’s new gas engine on the test bench (Photo: Rolls-Royce Power Systems)

Rolls-Royce Unveils MTU Gas Marine Engine

MTU’s new gas engine for commercial marine applications – the first from Rolls-Royce – has undergone some 3,000 hours on the test bench and is now ready to enter series production as the first high-speed pure-gas marine engine. “We can now confirm that the engine meets both our requirements and those of our customers: its performance and its acceleration behavior are similar to the excellent characteristics of a diesel engine,” said Dr. Ulrich Dohle, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG.

MAN D&T: 20M Euro Pledge for 10 LNG Retrofits

At the Our Ocean 2017 Conference recently concluded in Malta, MAN Diesel and Turbo made a unique pledge that to furthering the use of LNG as fuel onboard commercial ships. “We clearly recognize that our interests are best served by ensuring that the world’s oceans remain in robust, good health," said Wayne Jones, OBE, Chief Sales Officer of MAN Diesel & Turbo. "MAN Diesel & Turbo believes that it is time for what we call a ‘Maritime Energy Transition’ to find clean solutions for seaborne trade and transportation.

World’s First MAN B&W ME-GI Enters Service

Nakilat, in association with Qatari LNG producers Qatargas and RasGas Company Limited and engine manufacturer MAN Diesel & Turbo, recently celebrated the success of the ME-GI project involving the retrofit of chartered Q-Max vessel, Rasheeda, with a gas-burning M-Type Electronically Controlled – Gas Injection (ME-GI) System, which has now been successfully commissioned. The Qatari-owned Q-Max vessel is the world’s first low-speed marine diesel engine to be converted to use LNG as a fuel. The retrofit modification meets the current known and future stated global emissions regulations.