G50ME-C9 Engine Successfully Passes TAT

MAN Diesel & Turbo’s G50 engine has successfully passed its Type Approval Test at Mitsui in Japan. Upon entering service, the engine will power the world’s first ethane-fuelled eco-friendly LEG (Liquefied Ethane Gas) carrier – the first of three such vessels to be built in China by SinoPacific Shipyard for the German shipowner, Hartmann Reederei.

Besides operating on ethane, the flexible ME-GI engine will be able to operate on HFO, MDO and gas oil. Propulsion efficiency will be further improved by employing an MAN Kappel propeller with rudder-bulb system.

The G50-type has been developed with an eye on reducing production costs and accordingly features a lower weight and shorter length than its predecessor, while still being able to boast the same power output.

The DNV-GL classification society oversaw proceedings in Japan where the engine was tested as an ME-C type running on MGO but its gas system also successfully completed a pressure and function test. The first test and operation on ethane gas will take place after loading in Texas aboard the 36,000 m3 LEG carrier once ethane gas has been bunkered, after which the engine will officially be named a 7G50ME-GIE (Gas Injection Ethane) type.

The news of the successful TAT follows the announcement by a JACCAR/Hartmann Reederei joint venture that has ordered another 5 × 85,000 m3 ‘Eco Star 85K’ Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLECs) with each vessel to be powered by a single MAN B&W 6G60ME-GIE main engine. In addition these latest 5 vessels will be IMO Tier III NOx compliant through the use of MDT’s proprietary EGR, Exhaust Gas Recirculation System.

This latest order brings the total of ethane-burning ME-GIE engines on order with MAN Diesel & Turbo to eight with, the company reports, more in the pipeline.