New Maersk box ships will be powered by largest-ever methanol fueled engines

MAN Energy Solutions developed the ME-LGIM dual-fuel engine for operation on both methanol and conventional fuel.

The 16,000 TEU methanol fueled containerships just ordered by Maersk mark a substantial scale-up of the methanol powered technology from the previous size limit of around 2,000 TEU. So it is no surprise to learn that they will be powered by the largest, methanol fueled engines ever built.

Hyundai’s Shipbuilding Division, HHI-SBD, has ordered eight MAN B&W 8G95ME-LGIM (-Liquid Gas Injection Methanol) engines for the ships. The “95” in the designation indicates the cylinder bore in centimeters, And at 95 centimeters it is a significant upgrade on the existing 50 centimeter bore ME-LGIM engines in the MAN Energy Solutions portfolio.

Hyundai Engine & Machinery Division, HHI-EMD, will build the engines. The order contains an option for a further four engines with the first of the confirmed vessels due to enter service in first quarter 2024.

“This is a massive milestone as these engines will be the largest methanol-burning engines ever constructed,” said Bjarne Foldager, senior vice president and head of Two-Stroke Business, MAN Energy Solutions, said: They will be based on their well-proven 50-bore counterpart, which has already been in our engine portfolio for some time gathering more than 100,000 running hours on methanol alone. The 95-bore’s development is another example of our commitment towards decarbonization and providing solutions demanded by the market.”

The new engines will be capable of burning bio-methanol as well as e-methanol.

The new order closely follows that from July 2021 when MAN Energy Solutions won the order to supply the world’s first, low-speed, dual-fuel engine to run on methanol within the container segment – a MAN B&W 6G50ME-LGIM type built by HHI-EMD – to a 2,100-TEU vessel also ordered at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard by A.P. Møller – Maersk.