MAN Diesel & Turbo offers discount on LNG retrofits

Wes Amelie is now operating on LNG following pioneering retrofit of its existing engine

OCTOBER 9, 2017 — In a pledge made at an EU sponsored, invitation-only conference held in Malta October 5-6, MAN Diesel & Turbo is offering EUR 2 million discount on the next ten ships to undertake conversion of an existing HFO to gas operation similar to that successfully pioneered with the the 2011-built 1,036 TEU Wessels Reederei feedership Wes Amelie.

Wes Amelie is now in service and operating on LNG following the retrofitting of its MAN 8L48/60B main engine to a multi-fuel, four-stroke MAN 51/60DF unit that enables dual-fuel operation.

The dual-fuel conversion has enabled the ship to significantly reduce its SOx emissions by >99%, NOx by approximately 90%, and CO2 by up to 20%. It now meets both the Tier II and Tier III emission requirements set by IMO.

Hosted by EU Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu, last week’s Our Ocean 2017 conference in Malta focused on topics that included climate change, marine pollution, and sustainable maritime economies.

The aim was to bring together statesmen, government ministers and industry leaders to look to the future and deliver high-level commitments to preserve the world’s oceans.

“We clearly recognize that our interests are best served by ensuring that the world’s oceans remain in robust, good health,” said Wayne Jones, Chief Sales Officer of MAN Diesel & Turbo, speaking from the conference floor. “MAN Diesel & Turbo believes that it is time for what we call a ‘Maritime Energy Transition’ to find clean solutions for seaborne trade and transportation.”

“Just recently, my company set a new benchmark with the world’s first conversion of a containership from conventional fuel to gas operation.” he said. “In order to encourage more ship owners to follow this example, MAN Diesel & Turbo is pledging a 2 million Euro discount for ten such LNG retrofits to convert existing HFO engines into modern, clean, efficient gas-engines. In doing so, we hope to play our part in moving the world’s fleet towards the clean technology our industry and our oceans deserve.”