MAN Announces World's First Container Ship Dual-Fuel LNG Retrofit

MAN says it has signed a contract with Wessels Reederei for the dual fuel conversion of the 1,000 TEU container ship, Wes Amelie.

MAN Diesel & Turbo SE (MAN) has announced it has signed an agreement with German-based Wessels Reederei GmbH & Co. KG (Wessels Reederei) for the conversion of the shipping company's 1,000 TEU container ship Wes Amelie to liquid natural gas (LNG)-capable dual-fuel operation - said to be the first such retrofit to be performed on a containership in the world.

MAN says the completion of the retrofit will allow the Wes Amelie to reduce its sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions by more than 99 percent, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by about 90 percent, and its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by as much as 20 percent.

"With each rebuild, we are creating an increasing demand for LNG as a clean fuel," said Christian Hoepfner, General Manager at Wessels Reederei.

"Only in this way – and not only through appeals – can the development of an LNG infrastructure continue to gain momentum."

MAN says the retrofit will commence sometime within 2016's fourth quarter, with the vessel expected to be placed back into operation and capable of burning LNG bunkers by early December 2016.

“We are very excited about the signing of this contract and view its potential for broader adoption within the maritime sector as significant," said Dr. Thomas Spindler, Head of Upgrades & Retrofits for MAN's PrimeServ Four-Stroke.

"We enjoy an excellent cooperation with Wessels and commend their willingness to adopt our dual-fuel technology.”

In October, Jacob Høgh Thygesen, director merchant solutions for Wärtsilä Ship Design, said he believes the world's feeder fleet is "the obvious candidate to lead the way to a dual-fuel future."