DUAL-FUEL METHANOL MILESTONE

Two of the first vessels powered by dual-fuel ME-LGI (Liquid Gas Injection Methanol) engines operating on methanol, have each passed 10,000 operating hours on the alternative fuel.

Swedish ship management company Marinvest said its Mari Jone and Mari Boyle tankers fitted with MAN Energy Solutions’ engines clocked up the hours successfully. Additionally, the company reports that its combined ME-LGI-powered fleet has passed a cumulative total of 50,000 operating hours on methanol.

Bjarne Foldager, senior vice president, head of two-stroke business at MAN Energy Solutions, said: “The successful passing of this significant milestone is testament to the ME-LGI’s strong concept, and indeed the strength of our dual-fuel portfolio as a whole.”

The two methanol tankers are managed on timecharters for Waterfront Shipping and operate globally, providing an uninterrupted flow of methanol between storage terminals and customer plants.

Flexible operation

MAN Energy Solutions developed the ME-LGIM dual-fuel engine for operation on methanol, heavy fuel oil (HFO), marine diesel oil (MDO), or marine gas oil (MGO).

The engine is based on the company’s proven ME-series and works according to the diesel principle as methanol is a low-flashpoint, liquid fuel. When operating on methanol, the ME-LGI uses HFO, MDO, or MGO as a pilot fuel, significantly reducing emissions of CO2, NOx and SOx, and eliminating methanol slip.

Tests on the engine, when running on methanol, have recorded the same or a slightly better efficiency compared to conventional HFO-burning engines.