Wessels Signs LOI with MAN for the Conversion of Three Ships to Dual-Fuel Propulsion

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Friday November 10, 2017

MAN Diesel & Turbo SE (MAN) has announced that it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Wessels Reederei GmbH & Co. KG (Wessels) for the conversion of three ships to dual-fuel gas operation.

The three vessels are sisters to the Wes Amelie, which - as Ship & Bunker has reported - became the world's first box ship converted to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion.

"The Wes Amelie project was really a pioneering moment in the European container-feeder market and shows clearly that existing MAN engines can be converted to LNG operation with a tremendous effect on exhaust emissions and the environment," said Stefan Eefting, Senior Vice President of MAN and Head of MAN PrimeServ Diesel.

"One of the key reasons the Wes Amelie was selected for conversion was its 'multiplier effect', that is, its many sister ships that would facilitate follow-up projects at reduced costs owing to the experiences gained from the first project. I believe the signing of this letter of intent validates our approach and points a realistic way towards decarbonisation and a climate-neutral shipping industry by 2050."

Wes Amelie has 23 sister ships, 16 of which are structurally identical, enabling follow-up projects to be easily implemented, says MAN.

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