EMEA News
DNV: LNG Tech "Leaving the Market Niche"
Det Norske Veritas (DNV) says it is supporting the adoption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering in Germany through the introduction of dual-fuel Caterpillar M 46 engines.
Jörg Langkabel, DNV's country manager, presented the possibilities of LNG as an economic and safe marine fuel during a visit by German Minister of Transport Peter Ramsauer to Caterpillar Inc. (Caterpillar)'s factory in Rostock.
"Making technology-based decisions is complex for each individual company, as is finding the right way into the future," he said.
"We fully support the overall political will and dedication to reduce harmful emissions from ship operations."
DNV said a large number of ships using Caterpillar engines could be converted to the use of LNG, showing that the technology is "leaving the market niche and spreading out into the industry."
According to Caterpillar, 450 ships, most of them owned by German companies, are now using its M43C-type engine, which can be converted to the IMO III compliant, LNG-fuelled 46 DF type, potentially thorough a standardized, cost-effective retrofit.
"The transport industry can play a leading role by changing fuel," Ramsauer said.
"With our mobility and fuel strategy, we have introduced a way forward for a change with a long-term horizon, making this suitable for continuous planning and implementation."
He added that the MS Atair, owned by the German Authority for Shipping and Hydrographics, will be replaced by an LNG-fuelled ship in 2015.
Caterpillar announced last month that its Hamburg-based Marine Power Systems division had shipped its first MaK M 46 DF dual fuel marine engine to power a new vessel ordered by AIDA cruises of Germany.
