Lng Engine News

Wärtsilä announced it will supply its recently introduced Wärtsilä 25DF dual-fuel (LNG) engine for two new sail-assisted luxury cruise ships. The vessels are being built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique (CdA) shipyard in France for Orient Express Silenseas, part of French hospitality group Accor. There is an option for an additional two vessels.The efficient and environmentally friendly Wärtsilä 25DF engine features a two stage turbocharging system, common rail fuel injection and cylinder wise combustion control.

Swedish tanker operator Terntank has said it has taken delivery of TERN FORS tanker.Designed by Terntank and Kongsberg Maritime CM AS, TERN FORS is the second of a series of two 15000 DWT chemical and product tankers, that combine LNG/LNG engine-powered engines, are 100% biofuel compatible, emit no greenhouse gases or carbon particulates during port operations and facilitate enhanced digital solutions for Just-in-Time management."We are thrilled to announce that TERN FORS has been delivered today from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard…

French oil and gas major Total has struck a deal with cruise line MSC Cruises to supply around 45,000 tons per year of LNG to MSC Cruises’ upcoming LNG-powered cruise ships to make calls in the port of Marseille (France).According to the statement on Thursday, MSC Cruises’ LNG-powered vessels will be amongst the most technologically advanced cruise ships in the world, bringing a range of environmental innovations to the market, including a 50-kilowatt, LNG-powered solid oxide…

MSC Cruises, a global cruise line registered in Switzerland and based in Geneva, has held a steel-cutting ceremony for its first new-generation World-Class ship at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.The first of five liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered cruise ships on order, MSC Europa is the first LNG ship to be built in France.On the occasion of the cutting of the first steel ceremony held in Saint-Nazaire, MSC and Chantiers de l’Atlantique unveiled a groundbreaking R&D project named PACBOAT.The project focuses on the integration of a new fuel cell technology demonstrator onboard the first of four MSC Cruises’ World Class of vessels, due for delivery in 2022.

European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) representing the European shipowners believe that continuous progress was made last week at the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) intersessional meeting of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). The meeting has further built on an initial strategy for reducing CO2 emissions from the international shipping, which the next MEPC meeting should adopt it in 2018. In the meeting, the draft initial IMO plan was thoroughly discussed in order to establish a clear vision and guiding principles on the levels of ambition for a comprehensive CO2 reduction strategy in line with the Paris COP21 Agreement on climate change.

The world’s first containership retrofitted with a liquefied natural gas (LNG) engine was launched on August 23, 2017. Since May 2017, the 1,000 TEU containership Wes Amelie, owned by Wessels Reederei based in Harem/Ems, has undergone an engine conversion at the German Dry Docks in Bremerhaven, and from this point forward will run on LNG fuel. Experts from the Hamburg based company Nauticor were selected to conduct the vessel’s initial LNG bunkering at the Kühlhauskai in the Port of Bremerhaven. In total, four trucks of LNG were brought to the German port and transferred to the vessel.

European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) representing the European shipowners believe that important progress was made last week at the International Maritime Organziation’s (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting. In the meeting a plan was agreed to develop a CO2 reduction strategy in line with the Paris COP21 Agreement on climate change. An initial strategy for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases from the international shipping should be further developed in the next meeting of October 2017 and the next MEPC72 meeting should adopt it in 2018. The industry believes this should lay out a clear vision and short and medium term measures and quantified CO2 reduction objectives for the sector.

In the immortal words of one Kermit the Frog, “it’s not easy being green.” Nor inexpensive. Offshore ship owners managing the demand “fallout” of the past year and navigating myriad environmental strictures say their leap of faith toward greener fuels has taken its toll. The idealism of a decade ago has eroded, they say, in the face of lost offshore business, especially long-term contracts. Oil company clients that once insisted on high-spec, “green” vessels haven’t renewed contracts for those ships.

Today, the Panama Canal launched the Environmental Premium Ranking, a new initiative that rewards customers who meet high environmental efficiency standards. The new incentive allows qualified customers the opportunity to improve their position within the Panama Canal’s Customer Ranking System, which is taken into consideration when booking for transit through the Panama Canal. This latest initiative is part of the Canal’s Green Connection Environmental Recognition Program, which recognizes customers who demonstrate excellent environmental stewardship and to encourage others to implement technologies and standards to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

LNG? Methanol as fuel? Hybrid systems? Tier 4? Reducing noise? Cutting emissions without crushing fuel economy? Marine News readers have questions and Bob Kunkel has answers. Kunkel, President of Alternative Marine Technologies, previously served as the Federal Chairman of the Short Sea Shipping Cooperative Program under the Maritime Administration and Department of Transportation from 2003 until 2008. A past Vice President of the Connecticut Maritime Association, he is a contributing writer for Maritime Professional and Marine News. A graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Kunkel sailed as a licensed engineer and eventually continued his career in ship construction at NASSCO, San Diego, Hyundai Heavy Industries, S. Korea, Chengxi Shipyard and Dalian New Shipyard in China.

The main engine has been set onto Crowley Maritime Corporation’s new vessel, El Coquí, the first of two new Commitment Class ConRo (combination container and Roll/On-Roll/Off) ships that will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) for use in the ocean cargo trade between Jacksonville and Puerto Rico. “This state-of-the-art engine technology will add efficiency while continuing to reduce impacts on the environment, one of Crowley’s top priorities,” said John Hourihan, senior vice president and general manager, Puerto Rico services.

Those MarineNews readers who are not familiar with Bob Kunkel, probably should be. That’s because Kunkel, President of Alternative Marine Technologies, previously served as the Federal Chairman of the Short Sea Shipping Cooperative Program under the Maritime Administration and Department of Transportation from 2003 until 2008. A past Vice President of the Connecticut Maritime Association, he is a contributing writer for Maritime Professional Magazine and of course, MarineNews.

Those MarineNews readers who are not familiar with Bob Kunkel probably should be. That’s because Kunkel, President of Alternative Marine Technologies, previously served as the Federal Chairman of the Short Sea Shipping Cooperative Program under the Maritime Administration and Department of Transportation from 2003 until 2008. He is a past Vice President of the Connecticut Maritime Association, a contributing writer for many maritime and technical trades publications, including Maritime Professional Magazine and MarineNews.

Horizon Lines plans to convert the power plants on two of its steam turbine cargo vessels to modern diesel engines capable of burning conventional liquid fuels or liquefied natural gas (LNG). "We are viewing this as the first step in a repowering initiative for Horizon Lines vessels serving in the Hawaii and Puerto Rico trade lanes," said Sam Woodward, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The two initial steam vessels targeted for the planned repowering are structurally viable for the conversion from steam-powered to dual diesel/LNG engines.

Rolls-Royce has won a contract to convert the tankship 'Bergen Viking' to run on engines powered by natural gas, replacing the current diesel engines. Rolls-Royce Plc has won a contract to convert the merchant ship Bergen Viking to run on engines powered by natural gas, replacing the current diesel engines. The Norwegian ship owner Bergen Tankers AS has chosen gas engines and accompanying systems from Rolls-Royce for this upgrade, to provide a more environmental friendly and fuel efficient ship.

Caterpillar, Inc. is continuing its focus on LNG engine technology as part of its ongoing commitment to develop environmentally clean, fuel-efficient engines for the marine industry. This initiative will ensure the company’s marine-focused engines are in compliance with existing IMO II (and pending IMO III) emissions requirements and low-sulfur fuel regulations in emission-controlled areas. Following the company’s 2011 introduction of the MaK M 46 DF, a dual-fuel engine platform for the commercial marine industry that will be available in 1st quarter  2014, Caterpillar is simultaneously developing a LNG-fueled, high-speed engine below 2 MW that will be designed primarily for electric propulsion with specific focus on offshore and ferry applications.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. will unveil by 2015 a natural-gas-powered engine that emits 30% less carbon dioxide than conventional models. The machinery manufacturer has improved existing technology to develop a combustion engine that efficiently burns high-pressure gas through direct injection reports the Wall Street Journal from the 26, November 2012 edition of Nikkei. The engine will be marketed to customers after emissions levels and fuel economy are tested through a trial run that starts in late 2013 at Mitsubishi Heavy's Kobe shipyard. It is intended for liquefied-natural-gas carriers, large tankers and containerships. Source: Wall Street Journal

Veka-Group has developed  three new LNG tankers, which can also be used as bunker ships. Two tankers are destined for short sea trips and/or coastal services. The third tanker, a LNG inland waterway bunker ship, is the first of its type in the world. The tanker sails almost completely on the ‘boil off’ of the load and is 100% emission-free. After the introduction of the first bi-fuel tanker in the world, the “Pioneer Knutsen”, this is again a proof of Veka-Group’s innovative power. With the “Pioneer Knutsen”, Bijlsma Shipyard, member of the Veka-Group, was years ahead of her time.

Exactly 100 years ago, the Danish ship Selandia set an example for international shipping as a pioneer within CO2 reduction. Now we are ready for yet another environmental quantum leap. The most distinctive feature of the M/S Selandia was the fact that it had no funnel emitting black smoke up into the sky. The M/S Selandia marked the beginning of the end of steamships. As the first ocean-going ship, she sailed on diesel instead of coal. A technological revolution built at the B&W shipyard. And at the same time, a major gain for the environment.

In the first two months of 2006, Wärtsilä Corporation won orders for a further 16 Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines to power four LNG (liquefied natural gas) carriers contracted in Korea. In January Wärtsilä was awarded an order to supply two sets of four Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines to Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) of Korea. These engines will be installed in two dual-fuel-electric LNG carriers contracted by Bergesen Worldwide Gas of Norway, and are the first Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines to be ordered by DSME. In February Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries of Korea ordered two sets of four Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines to power two dual-fuel-electric LNG carriers for Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) of Japan.