World’s First Conversion of Container Ship to Dual-Fuel Operation Concludes Successfully

At a recent event at the Hamburg offices of MAN Diesel & Turbo, Dr Uwe Lauber – CEO of MAN Diesel & Turbo – presented Gerd Wessels, Managing Owner of Wessels Reederei with a take-over certificate marking the formal conclusion of the ‘Wes Amelie’ LNG conversion project.

Gerd Wessels said: “This pioneering project marks a milestone in the European container feeder market, and MAN has impressively proven that existing engines can be converted to LNG operation with a tremendous effect on exhaust emissions and the environment.”

The project involved the retrofitting of the 1,036-teu feeder container ship’s MAN 8L48/60B main engine to a multi-fuel, four-stroke MAN 51/60DF unit that enables dual-fuel operation – the first such conversion of its type the world has ever seen.

Christian Hoepfner, General Manager of Wessels Reederei, said: “The ‘Wes Amelie’ operates in the highly regulated Nordic and Baltic Seas. Since they are both within Emission Control Areas, the ship needs to meet the highest environmental standards and strictest limits for emissions. By converting to a low emission fuel, we are safeguarding the future of this container ship as well as our own competitiveness in the market.”

Stefan Eefting – Head of MAN PrimeServ in Augsburg – also attended the ceremony and said: “We are very happy to have successfully completed this project with the great cooperation of our partner, Wessels Reederei. In doing so, we trust that the dramatic reduction in emissions will mark the beginning of a trend towards the adoption of LNG as an environmentally friendly fuel within the maritime sector.”

“By providing customers with the technology to retrofit their existing fleet, we are driving what we call the maritime energy transition”, adds Dr Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Diesel & Turbo. “There are roughly 40,000 cargo vessels in operation worldwide. If we are serious about decarbonisation and want the shipping industry to be climate neutral by 2050, we need to take action today.”

The dual-fuel conversion has enabled the ‘Wes Amelie’ to significantly reduce its SO_x emissions by >99%, NO_x by approximately 90%, and CO₂ by up to 20%. The vessel now meets both the Tier II and Tier III emission requirements set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Works were carried out at German Dry Docks in Bremerhaven in cooperation with gas-specialist, TGE Marine Engineering, who provided tank and LNG components. Bureau Veritas, the international classification society based in France, classed the conversion.

Wessels and MAN Diesel & Turbo originally signed the retrofit contract at the Europort exhibition for maritime technology in November 2015. The ‘Wes Amelie’ was constructed in 2011 and has already re-entered service on its usual route between the North and Baltic Seas.  

Multiplier effect

When selecting a suitable vessel for conversion, special attention was paid to the scalability of the engineering services as well as the development costs, reducing significantly the costs for follow-up projects. In this respect, the ‘Wes Amelie’ has 23 sister ships, 16 of them structurally identical, which would allow follow-up projects to be easily implemented. This ship therefore facilitates a multiplier effect, with multiple, other, ‘conversion-capable’ vessels also found around the European continent.

About Wessels Reederei

With a current fleet of 37 ships, Wessels Reederei is one of the largest managers of coastal vessels. It has a fleet of some 28 coasters, four container and five multipurpose vessels and is based in Haren/Ems, Germany.

Reference: man.eu

Disclaimer :
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.

Latest Shipping News You Would Like:

Cocaine Worth €157 Million Seized From Ship In Ireland’s Biggest Drugs Haul Ever

Posted on September 28, 2023

An operation wherein over two tons of cocaine was recovered off the coast of Ireland is so far the greatest drug seizure in the state’s history, gardaí (the Irish police) have informed.

After India, U.S Raises Concerns Over Chinese Spy Ship’s Visit To Sri Lanka

Posted on September 28, 2023

The US has voiced its concern to Sri Lanka regarding a research vessel of China most likely to dock in the island country in the next month, a development that India finds concerning too.

WinGD Wins First Approval In Principle For Ammonia Two-Stroke Engine

Posted on September 28, 2023

Lloyd’s Register approval in principle will support shipowner confidence on vessel designs using ammonia-fuelled main engines.

UNCTAD Calls For Bold Global Action To Decarbonize Shipping And Ensure A Just Transition

Posted on September 28, 2023

The Review of Maritime Transport 2023 urges swift action and system-wide collaboration to decarbonize maritime transport amid growing carbon emissions and regulatory uncertainty.

World Maritime Day 2023 Highlights Marine Environment Protection

Posted on September 28, 2023

IMO’s commitment to the preservation of the marine environment underlined on World Maritime Day 2023.