Methanol scores again with PCTC order
Graphical rendering of an MAN B&W G95ME-LGIM Mk. 10.5 dual-fuel methanol engine
(Source: MAN Energy Solutions)
RoRo shipping and vehicle logistics company, Wallenius Wilhelmsen, has chosen dual-fuel engines from MAN Energy Solutions for four pure car truck carriers (PCTCs) it has ordered at Jinling Shipyard (Jiangsu) in China.
The 9,300-CEU ships will have MAN B&W 7S60ME-C10.5-LGIM (liquid gas injection methanol) engines capable of running on green methanol. The ships are due for delivery from mid-2026 and the contract includes options for up to eight more vessels.
Affirming its support for methanol as a marine fuel, Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, Xavier Leroi, declared: “We are securing our position as our customers’ first choice in shipping and delivering on our strategy to provide a net-zero, emission-free, end-to-end service by 2027. We believe that methanol is the fastest way to net-zero emissions.”
MAN Energy Solutions’ head of Two-Stroke Business, Bjarne Foldager, commented: “Methanol is gaining momentum within the PCTC segment off the back of strong Chinese car manufacturing figures and the introduction of new emission regulations. Within the segment, Wallenius Wilhelmsen is a major player and one of the first movers to methanol based on its own journey towards net zero. We fully expect methanol to figure prominently as a future fuel across vehicle carriers and, indeed eventually, all vessel segments.”
The engine company’s Thomas S. Hansen, head of Promotion and Customer Support, said: “This will be the second newbuilding project within the PCTC segment that features our S60-LGIM engine. The shipping industry is showing an increasing interest in decarbonisation by operating vessels on green methanol and these engines will provide significant emission reductions.
“The ME-LGIM concept is proven and still the only such concept that has entered commercial operation. Currently, our total ME-LGIM orders stand at over 150 engines. This includes more than 23 already in operation and that have accumulated more than 500,000 running hours since first entering service in 2016,” he added.
MAN B&W ME-LGIM engines are based on the engine company’s successful ME-series and operate on the Diesel principle. There are about 8,500 such engines in service and, when operating on green methanol, they provide carbon-neutral propulsion.
