Hyundai’s Ship-Building Division, HHI-SBD, has ordered 8 × MAN B&W 8G95ME-LGIM (Liquid Gas Injection Methanol) engines, in connection with the building of 8 × 16,000-teu container ships for A.P. Moller – Maersk, the global integrator of container logistics.
Hyundai Engine & Machinery Division, HHI-EMD, will build the engines. The order contains an option for a further four engines, with the first of the confirmed vessels due to enter service in Q1, 2024.
Methanol dual-fuel engines
Bjarne Foldager, Senior Vice President and Head of Two-Stroke Business, MAN Energy Solutions, said “This is a massive milestone, as these engines will be the largest methanol-burning engines ever constructed. They will be based on their well-proven 50-bore counterpart, which has already been in our engine portfolio for some time, gathering more than 100,000 running hours on methanol alone.”
Bjarne Foldager adds, “The 95-bore’s development is another example of our commitment towards decarbonisation and providing solutions demanded by the market.”
MAN Energy Solutions
MAN Energy Solutions states that the new engines will be capable of burning bio-methanol
MAN Energy Solutions states that the new engines will be capable of burning bio-methanol, as well as e-methanol.
The new order closely follows that from July 2021, when MAN Energy Solutions won the order to supply the world’s first, low-speed, dual-fuel engine to run on methanol, within the container segment – a MAN B&W 6G50ME-LGIM type built by HHI-EMD – to a 2,100-teu vessel also ordered at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, by A.P. Møller – Maersk.
Thomas S. Hansen, Head of Promotion and Customer Support, MAN Energy Solutions, said “As a fuel, methanol is quickly becoming an option within the large container-vessel segment where, up until now, conventional fuel and LNG have long reigned.”
Switching to methanol as fuel in other ship segments
Thomas Hansen adds, “We expect that this significant order will spur further market interest in methanol as a fuel, also within other ship segments, such as bulkers. Our other ME-LGIM references show methanol to be a clean, efficient and safe, marine fuel that offers a clear path to decarbonisation, through significant greenhouse-gas reductions, when produced from renewable energy sources.”
Brian Østergaard Sørensen, Vice President, Head of Research & Development, Two-Stroke at MAN Energy Solutions, said “We have developed the G95 LGIM technology at our R&D test centre, in Copenhagen, based on the extensive knowledge and experience within dual-fuel technology that we have built up, over the past decade.”
MAN Energy Solutions’ dual-fuel engine portfolio
Brian Østergaard Sørensen adds, “In general, as we move towards a zero-carbon future, MAN Energy Solutions’ dual-fuel engine portfolio is well positioned, to handle whatever challenges the market brings.”
MAN Energy Solutions states that its low-speed, dual-fuel references now exceed 466 units, with its ME-GI type recording over 1.8 million operating hours on LNG alone, while the ME-LGI platform has accumulated more than 110,000 dual-fuel running hours.
MAN B&W ME-LGIM engine
MAN Energy Solutions developed the ME-LGIM dual-fuel engine for operation on methanol
MAN Energy Solutions developed the ME-LGIM dual-fuel engine for operation on methanol, as well as conventional fuel. The engine is based on the company’s proven ME-series, with its approximately 5,000 engines in service, and works according to the diesel principle. When operating on methanol, the ME-LGIM significantly reduces CO2, greenhouse gas, particles, NOx and SOx emissions.
Additionally, any operational switch between methanol and other fuels is seamless. Tests on the engine, when running on methanol, have recorded the same or slightly better efficiency, when compared to conventional, HFO-burning engines.
High fuel efficiency
MAN Energy Solutions developed the ME-LGI engine, in response to interest from the shipping world, in operating on alternatives to heavy fuel oil.
Methanol carriers have already operated at sea for many years, using the engine and as such, the ME-LGIM has a proven track record, offering great reliability, in combination with high fuel efficiency.