EMEA News
LNG Box Ship Conversion Said to be First of its Kind in the World
Wessels Reederei says it has been awarded a seven-figure government grant from the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure to transform their container ship Wes Amelie into a liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered vessel, the first of its kind in the world.
The announcement of the retrofit, which will commence in the fourth quarter of 2016, is the outcome of a two year collaboration with engine manufacturer MAN Diesel & Turbo and gas specialist TGW Marine Gas Engineering.
Wes Amelie, a 1,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) vessel, was originally launched in 2011 and operates in the North and Baltic Seas.
As part of a 24-ship fleet of which 16 vessels are structurally identical, the retrofitting of Wes Amelie has been planned with scalability in mind, and Wessels says follow-up projects will be "easily implemented."
Christian P. Hoepfner, general manager of Wessels, notes that with each retrofit, "We are creating an increasing demand for LNG as a clean fuel.
"Only in this way - and not only through appeals - can the development of an LNG infra-structure continue to gain momentum."
Gerd Wessels, managing owner of Wessels, added that with the LNG conversion, "We and our partners showcase our technical expertise and demonstrate practical environmental solutions for the merchant marine industry."
Earlier this year, German shipowners association Verband Deutscher Reeder called for government subsidies on behalf of German shipbuilders to advance that country's LNG industry, arguing that an incentive plan is necessary to open the market for LNG-powered vessels.
