As the culmination of nearly 12 years' research and development work, and a pointer to the direction of two-stroke diesel propulsion technology, MAN B&W has rolled-out its first purpose-built, electronically-controlled low-speed engine. Produced at the group's versatile Frederikshavn plant in Denmark, the camshaft-free 7S50ME-C engine is claimed to offer a range of operating, cost and environmental benefits, and will be fitted in a 37,500-dwt newbuild for Norwegian chemtanker specialist Odfjell. Odfjell's bold decision to nominate the ME concept, and so dispense with conventional control arrangements based on camshaft drive, follows its experience with a modern tanker powered by a two-stroke 6L60MC engine adapted for full electronic command in November 2000.