MAN Announces Success in Methanol Marine Engine Demo

Attendees at the demonstration showed great interest, said Jensen

MAN Diesel & Turbo (MAN) Monday announced the successful completion of a demonstration of its ME-LGI two-stroke methanol engine.

The trials were conducted at the MAN Research Centre in Copenhagen in front of existing customers and partners, including Westfal-Larsen, Marinvest, Waterfront Shipping/Methanex, MES, HHI-EMD, MOL, and Minaminippon.

"A number of years ago we identified the need to develop an engine that could run on more environmentally-friendly, competitively-priced fuels as an alternative to MDO/MGO," said Søren H. Jensen, Vice President and Head of R&D.

"We believe the ability of the ME-LGI engine to run on sulphur-free fuels offers great potential."

Attendees at the demonstration showed great interest, with feedback proving very positive, he added.

Jensen suggested the liquid gas injection engine is being targeted at methanol carriers and those operating within Emissions Control Areas (ECAs).

"Methanol carriers have already operated at sea for many years," he said.

"With a viable, convenient and economic fuel already on-board, exploiting a fraction of the cargo to power a vessel makes sense."

MAN has received orders for seven ME-LGI engines to-date, with the first due to be built by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. to be fitted aboard a vessel being built by Minaminippon for MOL.

"For ships operating in IMO Emission Control Areas (ECAs), methanol is a solution to the demands of sulphur-emission legislation," said MAN.

Last week, MAN Senior Vice President Ole Grone suggested shipowners wait to take advantage of improving technology before converting ships to run on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).