MAN Hails the Beginning of the "Maritime Energy Transition"

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday September 20, 2017

Dr. Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Diesel & Turbo SE (MAN) recently hailed the beginning of the "maritime energy transition," urging action by the shipping industry toward decarbonisation. 

Lauber's comments came while presenting Gerd Wessels, Managing Owner of Wessels Reederei, with a take-over certificate marking the formal conclusion of the Wes Amelie liquefied natural gas (LNG) conversion project.

As Ship & Bunker previously reported, the Wes Amelie - the world's first box ship converted to use LNG propulsion - was launched and bunkered in Germany last month.

"By providing customers with the technology to retrofit their existing fleet, we are driving what we call the maritime energy transition," said Lauber.

"There are roughly 40,000 cargo vessels in operation worldwide. If we are serious about decarbonisation and want the shipping industry to be climate neutral by 2050, we need to take action today."

Stefan Eefting, Head of MAN PrimeServ in Augsburg, commenting on the project, said: "we are very happy to have successfully completed this project with the great cooperation of our partner, Wessels Reederei.

"In doing so, we trust that the dramatic reduction in emissions will mark the beginning of a trend towards the adoption of LNG as an environmentally friendly fuel within the maritime sector."

As Ship & Bunker reported last year, the conversion of Wes Amelie was sponsored by Germany's Ministry of Transport and classed by Bureau Veritas S.A. (BV).

Ship & Bunker News Team
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