MAN strikes retrofit deal with container partners
MAN Primeserv has clinched a deal with Hapag-Lloyd and Seaspan to retrofit 15 container ship main engines so that, as dual-fuel units, they will be able to operate on green methanol. The agreement includes 45 options for further engine conversions.
The engines to be converted are MAN B&W S90 types, currently powered by fuel oil and operating in both the Hapag-Lloyd and Seaspan fleets. The units will become dual-fuel ME-LGIM engines, each one saving between 50,000 and 70,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year when operating on green methanol.
Thomas Leander, MAN’s head of Solutions and Site Manager, Frederikshavn, Denmark, 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 towards 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," he continued, "this also avoids the unnecessary building of additional tonnage with associated CO2 emissions, 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.
Seaspan, the world’s largest container ship lessor, charters vessels on long-term contracts to container lines. It has a fleet of about 130 ships, with a further 70 on order.
Hapag-Lloyd operates a 250-ship fleet with a transport capacity of 1.8 million TEU. It aims to operate its ships in a climate-neutral way and to become net-zero carbon by 2045.
