Bulker owners increasingly opt for ME-GI engines

The MAN B&W ME-GI engine

As more owners come to the conclusion that LNG, or at least LNG-ready, is the most future-proof option for newbuildings ordered today, sales of MAN B&W ME-GI engines are steadily increasing.

In line with this trend, New Times Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., located in Jiangsu Province, China, has ordered three MAN B&W 6G70 ME-GI engines in connection with the construction of three 210,000 dwt bulk carriers ordered by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific (EPS) for charter to mining multinational Rio Tinto.

The engines will be built in China by CSSC-MES Diesel (CMD).

This latest order for engines for Eastern Pacific bulkers comes after MAN Energy Solutions received an order in October 2020 for five 6G70ME-GI Mk 10.5 dual-fuel engines for five 210,000 dwt Newcastlemax bulk carriers, ordered by Eastern Pacific for five-year charters to Australian mining giant, BHP..

“The ME-GI engine is now the market standard for large, dual-fuel bulk carriers as the value chain in the segment has further increased its focus on decarbonization,” said Thomas Hansen, Head of Promotion and Customer Support, MAN Energy Solutions, said: “Here, this mature technology’s negligible methane-slip and the inherent potential for alternative fuels, are significant advantages and demonstrate to the industry that viable options for lowering carbon footprints exist. These vessels will be among the cleanest and most efficient in their segment, as well as being IMO 2030-compliant well in advance of the legislation.”

MAN Energy Solutions reports that its low-speed, dual-fuel references now exceed 374 units, with the ME-GI recording over 1.6 million operating hours on LNG alone.