Two-stroke, dual-fuel methanol engine orders continue to soar

This is clear from the latest data shared by leading two-stroke engine designer MAN Energy Solutions, which reported it has secured orders for 78 methanol-burning, dual-fuel ME-LGIM engines.

The latest order is for six MAN B&W G95ME-C10.5-LGIM dual-fuel main engines for six 17,000-TEU container vessels for AP Moller–Maersk that will be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries. Hyundai’s engine machinery division will build the engines in South Korea, which will be capable of running on green methanol when it becomes available.

“The adoption of methanol propulsion is gaining pace, behind which there are several drivers,” noted MAN Energy Solutions senior vice president and head of two-stroke business Bjarne Foldager. Mr Foldager noted that MAN B&W methanol engines are a proven technology and have been in commercial service since 2016.

“Additionally, as a fuel, methanol can be carbon-neutral when produced from renewable energy sources and biogenic CO2. The production capacity of such green methanol is currently increasing significantly; it is also liquid at ambient conditions, which simplifies tank design and minimises costs. Finally, our methanol engine only requires a fuel-supply pressure of 13 bar and a number of manufacturers already offer such fuel-supply systems,” added Mr Foldager.

Recent newbuild orders indicate the shipowners’ view that methanol is a viable path to decarbonisation. DNV principal consultant Martin Christian Wold noted in a social media post that the total number of “methanol-fuelled ships now stands at 66 ships, with approximately 40% of that fleet also transporting methanol as cargo.”

One of the latest orders  was placed by SAL Heavy Lift for four 14,600-dwt methanol dual-fuel heavy lift and project cargo carriers. These vessels, developed in co-operation with SAL Heavy Lift’s partner Jumbo Shipping, were ordered from China’s Wuhu Shipyard for the offshore wind market.