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Retrofitting can reduce CO2 emissions significantly

MAN Energy Solutions is implementing retrofitting technology to convert ship and power plant engines into future-ready machines capable of running on synthetic fuels – gaseous or liquid. Upgrade solutions and advanced customized retrofits by MAN PrimeServ open a world of options. They help you optimize reliability, efficiency, and performance; they lower maintenance expenses and add operational flexibility. More importantly, they enable you to comply with increasing environmental regulations. Retrofitting an engine extends the life cycle substantially, thus abating up to 97% of CO2 compared to e.g., building a new ship.

20
%
Our retrofit solutions reduce GHG emissions by up to 20 percent
86
mio t
Potential in savings of CO2 emissions
3700
Engines have a potential for a future fuel retrofit

Keep your engines, systems, and equipment compliant and competitive 

Cargo ships and power plants are long-term investments. Retrofitted and modernized with high-value MAN Energy Solutions’ products, they become more sustainable, can continue to be used for decades, and are an attractive investment proposition.

Retrofits play an important role in the energy transition and are crucial for achieving a green fleet of ships or power plants that help to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement.

A recent study indicates that around 1,900 two-stroke and 1,800 four-stroke marine and power plant engines have the potential for a future fuels retrofit.

Maximize savings with future fuels through cutting-edge retrofit solutions 

Switching between different fuels is made easy with MAN dual fuel engines, as they are highly versatile and capable of utilizing both liquid and gaseous fuels. This flexibility empowers you to transition between fuels at your convenience, whether driven by factors like fuel costs or regulatory requirements. What's more, these engines can seamlessly switch between fuels even while operating, all without compromising engine performance. Should you wish to convert single fuel engines to dual fuel, please note that such a transformation may necessitate adjustments to your fuel supply infrastructure. Our team of MAN PrimeServ fuel experts is readily available to provide guidance and discuss the various possibilities. 

Converting existing engines to dual-fuel operation is crucial to decarbonize shipping because it’s a powerful measure that can be implemented quickly. This is an essential first step, as all such dual-fuel engines can also be enabled to operate on a range of carbon-neutral synthetic fuels, including synthetic natural gas (SNG), green ammonia and methanol. And from an economic perspective, retrofitting is much more efficient than installing a new engine or building a new ship 

Unlocking efficiency and cost savings 

Our retrofit solutions, upgrades, and services optimize investment returns. They boost efficiency as well as performance, and reduce maintenance, fuel, and lube oil costs. 

Experts in retrofitting and dual-fuel conversions

At MAN Energy Solutions, we have a long-standing experience in retrofitting engines with state-of-the-art technology. We have also pioneered the conversion of large container ships to LNG operation, for example for Hapag-Lloyd, and are currently converting engines on board of a Karadeniz Powership from heavy-fuel-oil to dual-fuel operation.

Finding the perfect fit

Beside methanole, other fuels can also be a solution for your marine application: LNG, bio fuels or amminia. Find your perfect fit now.

News about our retrofit solutions

Thursday, July 6, 2023

Agreement for methanol main engine retrofit solutions signed

MAN PrimeServ to deliver engine retrofit solutions for Seaspan and Hapag-Lloyd vessels for dual-fuel propulsion

MAN Energy Solutions has signed a Conversion Commitment Agreement with Seaspan Corporation (Seaspan), a global leader in containership ownership and management in collaboration with Hapag-Lloyd, one of the leading global liner shipping companies. Under the terms of the Agreement, MAN PrimeServ, MAN Energy Solutions’ after-sales division, will deliver 15 engine retrofit solutions for  conversion of vessels powered by individual MAN B&W S90-type fuel-oil-powered engines from the Seaspan and Hapag-Lloyd fleets to dual-fuel ME-LGIM engines capable of running on green methanol. This Agreement includes 45 optional engine retrofit solutions. Each conversion can provide a CO2 reduction of 50.000–70.000 Tonnes each year, when operating on green methanol.

Bing Chen, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Torsten Pedersen, Chief Operating Officer, signed the Agreement on behalf of Seaspan, while Thomas Leander, Head of Solutions and Site Manager, Frederikshavn, Denmark; Jens Seeberg, Head of Retrofits & Upgrades, MAN PrimeServ Denmark; and Brian Østergaard Sørensen, Vice President and Head of R&D, Two-Stroke Business signed on behalf of MAN Energy Solutions. The development of this solution opportunity has been led by Thomas Leander of MAN Energy Solutions, Peter Curtis of Seaspan and Richard von Berlepsch, Managing Director Fleet of Hapag-Lloyd. 

Seaspan is the largest global containership lessor, primarily focused on long-term time charters with the world’s leading container shipping lines. With an industry-leading newbuild program of 70 vessels, Seaspan will bring its owned fleet to a total of 200 vessels and 1.9mn TEU capacity.

With a fleet of 250 modern container ships and a total transport capacity of 1.8 million TEU, Hapag-Lloyd is one of the world’s leading liner shipping companies. Hapag-Lloyd aims at operating its vessels in a climate-neutral manner to become net-zero carbon by 2045.

Leander said: “Seaspan and Hapag-Lloyd, are significant maritime stakeholders with strong fleet-decarbonisation commitments and strategies. This Agreement shows clear intent to drive the industry transition toward zero-carbon shipping. Retrofitting existing engines to dual-fuel running is one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to derive greater efficiency and profitability from an existing shipping fleet, while simultaneously delivering fuel flexibility and extending operational lifetimes. Crucially, this also avoids the unnecessary building of additional tonnage with associated CO2 emissions, and thereby showcasing that retrofitting the existing maritime fleet is an important and feasible path.

With this collaborative agreement, we proceed our journey providing decarbonisation solutions for the maritime industry.”

About the MAN B&W ME-LGIM engine

 

MAN Energy Solutions developed the ME-LGIM (-Liquid Gas Injection Methanol) 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 8,500 engines in service, and works according to the Diesel principle. When operating on green methanol, the engine offers carbon-neutral propulsion for large merchant-marine vessels. Currently more than 100 ME-LGIM engines are on order or in service, more than 50 of which are G95ME-C10.5-LGIM variants.

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 and high fuel-efficiency. 

Documents

  • PR Seaspan_Hapaglloyd_EN
    PDF, 247 KB English

Images

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    JPEG, 5466 KB English

Contact

Nils Søholt

Trade Press Marine

Group Communications & MarktingMAN Energy SolutionsTeglholmsgade 412450 Copenhagen SVDenmark

t +45 33 85 26 69

Available languages

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I retrofit older vessels, or are retrofits primarily for newer ships?

Retrofits benefit vessels of all ages, not just newer ones. It extends the operational life of vessels and ensures compliance with evolving industry as well as environmental standards. Retrofit options depend on the vessel's age, condition, and design, but older ships can benefit from retrofits as well.

What are the environmental and regulatory benefits of upgrading to cleaner technologies in marine applications?

Upgrading to cleaner technologies in marine applications provides numerous environmental and regulatory benefits. This includes significant reductions in emissions of air pollutants, compliance with international regulations, improved fuel efficiency, and noise reduction. Moreover, cleaner technologies enhance safety, contribute to long-term sustainability by reducing carbon emissions, and open access to environmentally conscious markets.

What is the expected downtime during a retrofit or upgrade project?

The expected downtime during a retrofit or upgrade project varies significantly based on factors like the project’s size, customization, location, regulatory requirements, and unforeseen issues. Downtime can range from a few weeks to several months. Efficient project planning can help reduce downtime, while unforeseen problems may extend it. The goal is to strike a balance between minimizing downtime and ensuring high-quality and safe work.

Strategic expertise for global sustainability

Apart from retrofit solutions, as an integral component of our future technology portfolio, we also provide enduring core products and digitalization services. With our extensive expertise in these domains, we are mapping out the path towards a sustainable future.