First Order for MAN?s Liquid Gas Injection Engine

Vancouver-based Waterfront Shipping has confirmed its Methanol Carrier Project for a series of 50,000-dwt methanol carriers, each powered by an MAN B&W ME-LGI main engine running on methanol.

MAN Diesel & Turbo announced the development of a new MAN B&W ME-LGI dual fuel engine on 1 July, 2013. The company subsequently signed a Letter of Intent – less than two weeks later – with Waterfront Shipping for the use of ME-LGI engines on its ships, a move that the new order now confirms. The engines will eventually run on 95 per cent methanol, ignited by 5 per cent pilot oil.

Ole Grøne, senior vice president for the department at MAN Diesel & Turbo, said: “This order represents a real market breakthrough for our liquid gas injection engine and is the first such, commercial project that is not reliant on external funding. Simply put, the ME-LGI engine was chosen for these carriers because it is the engine best suited to the application. The LGI engine is designed to handle low-flash-point, low-sulphur fuels like LPG and methanol, etc. Consequently, its green credentials are striking with emissions of sulphur being almost completely eliminated.”

Waterfront Shipping, a wholly owned subsidiary of Methanex Corporation, is a global marine transportation company specialising in the transport of bulk chemicals and clean petroleum products. “Methanol is a sulphur-free fuel and provides many environmental and clean-burning benefits. In using methanol-based marine fuel, we can reduce emissions and fuel costs at the same time,” stated Jone Hognestad, president of Waterfront Shipping.

The ME-LGI concept is an entirely new concept that can be applied to all MAN Diesel & Turbo low-speed engines, either ordered as an original unit or through retrofitting. With two new injection concepts, the ME-LGI concept greatly expands the company’s dual-fuel portfolio and enables the exploitation of more low-flash-point fuels such as methanol and LPG.

The engine’s ‘ME-’ prefix indicates that the new engine benefits from well-proven electronic controls that also encompass the fuel being injected by a booster fuel injection valve. The fuel booster, especially developed for the ME-LGI engine, ensures that a low pressure fuel-gas supply system can be employed and this significantly reduces first-time costs and increases reliability.