World's First Box Ship Conversion to LNG-Bunkers Set for Next Year

Wessel's 1,036 TEU container vessel, the MV Wes Amelie, will be converted to run on LNG.

Bureau Veritas S.A. (BV) has announced that it will class the world's first container ship to be converted to liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion.

"Our experience with this kind of conversion on small scale LNG vessels helps the owners and other partners to move confidently to this new and cleaner fuel," said Philippe Donche-Gay, President of BV Marine & Offshore Division.

The project, which is sponsored by the German Ministry of Transport and includes Wessels Reederei GmbH & Co. KG (Wessels), MAN Diesel & Turbo SE (MAN), TGE Marine Gas Engineering, SMB Naval Architects & Consultants, and BV among its partners, will see Wessel's 1,036 TEU MV Wes Amelie converted to run on LNG.

"With the conversion to LNG we and our partners showcase our technical expertise and demonstrate practical environmental solutions for the merchant marine industry," said Gerd Wessels, owner of Wessels.

Under the project, MV Wes Amelie will see its existing engine, a MAN 8 L 48/60B, converted by MAN to a 51/60 DF dual-fuel engine, with an LNG tank of approximately 500 cubic metres (cbm) located in the front of the vessel to limit cargo capacity loss.

BV's consulting arm, Tecnitas, is said to be slated to carry out risk analyses on the new LNG as fuel system and operations, including LNG bunkering.

Following the conversion, which is set to occur in 2017, MV Wes Amelie will meet Tier III of Marpol Annex 6 regulation, notes BV.

In August, BV announced Terntank Rederi AS' (Terntank's) 15,000 DWT Ternsund as the first LNG-fuelled newbuild oil/chemical tanker to be classed by the company.