Fred. Olsen Marks Progress on Conversion of High-Speed Engines for Dual-Fuel Operation

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday March 1, 2017

Shipping company Fred. Olsen, S.A. (Fred. Olsen) has carried out the world's first conversion of high-speed engines for dual-fuel operation, which are intended for use on the Bencomo Express, a ferry operating on the company's Tenerife and Gran Canaria route, the Motorship reports.

As Ship & Bunker has previously reported, the conversion of the Bencomo Express is being completed under the GAINN4SHIP INNOVATION project, and is said to be the world's first conversion of a high-speed ro-pax vessel to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkers.

Successful test bench runs are said to have been carried out on a Caterpillar 3618 engine, with emission and reliability tests completed by AVL, and approval testing by DNV GL.

HEINZMANN GmbH & Co. KG (Heinzmann), which supplied the dual-fuel system, including a Megasol 200 II Marine gas admission valve, says fuel consumption was noticeably reduced through boosted engine efficiency in dual-fuel operation.

Utilising a fuel mix of 90 percent LNG and 10 percent MGO, the engine is reported to have reduced CO2 emissions by 30 percent for CO2, NOx emissions by 50 percent, and SOx emissions by 90 percent.

The Bencomo Express' four engines are said to be set for conversion to dual-fuel operation next year.

Last year, upon announcing its funding for the GAINN4SHIP INNOVATION project, the European Union (EU) explained that a key driver behind the project is to help operators comply with environmental regulations "in the most efficient way possible."