World's First ME-GIE Ethane Engine Completed at Mitsui's Tamano Works

Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MES) announced on 29 June that they have completed the world’s first ME-GIE ethane-operated two-stroke diesel engine. The engines will be for propulsion of 3 ethylene carriers, which will also carry ethane as cargo.

The Mitsui-MAN B&W 7G50ME-C9.5-GIE is the first engine in a series of three for installation in three LEG (liquefied ethylene gas) carriers of 36,000 m³ for Hartmann Schiffahrt of Germany and Ocean Yield of Norway, being built at Sinopacific Offshore Engineering (SOE) in China.

MAN Diesel & Turbo reports that ethane was chosen as fuel, in preference to HFO, due to its more competitive pricing as well as the significantly shorter bunkering time it entails. As a fuel, its emissions profile is also superior to HFO – in which respect it is similar to methane – and compared to HFO contains negligible Sulphur, 15-20% lower CO2 and emits significantly fewer particles during combustion. MAN Diesel & Turbo also states that the ME-GI engines will be set up such that they can easily be converted to run on methane as an alternative, as per the owner’s wish.

MAN Diesel & Turbo currently has eight ME-GIE engines on order.

The ME-GI engine

The ME-GI engine represents the culmination of many years’ work and gives shipowners and operators the option of utilizing fuel or gas depending on relative price and availability, as well as environmental considerations. The ME-GI uses high-pressure gas injection that allows it to maintain the numerous positive attributes of MAN B&W low-speed engines that have made them the default choice of the maritime community. MAN Diesel & Turbo sees significant opportunities arising for gas-fueled tonnage as fuel prices rise and modern exhaust-emission limits tighten. Indeed, research indicates that the ME-GI engine delivers significant reductions in CO2, NOx and SOx emissions. Furthermore, the ME-GI engine’s negligible fuel slip makes it the most environmentally friendly technology available. As such, the ME-GI engine represents a highly efficient, flexible, propulsion-plant solution. An ME-LGI counterpart that uses LPG, methanol and other liquid gasses is also available, and has already been ordered.

LEGCs

Ethylene carriers are generally considered the most sophisticated of all gas tankers and are capable of carrying most liquefied gas cargoes, but also ethylene at its atmospheric boiling point of −104 °C. These vessels have insulated 5% nickel-steel cargo tanks and can accommodate most liquefied gas cargoes up to a maximum specific gravity of 1.8 at temperatures ranging from −104°C to +80 °C at a maximum tank pressure of 4 bar.

Ethane

While ME-GI engines have been designed for use by several, different fuel types to date, ethane is a new departure. Ethane is one of the natural-gas liquids (NGLs) that are naturally occurring elements found in natural gas (and frequently separated removed and sold as a separate product), and include propane and butane, among others.

Hartmann Schiffahrt

Hartmann Schiffahrt is a ship-management company based in the northern German city of Leer. Founded in 1981, it manages the technical and economic aspects of its own and other fleets with a focus on the gas and container segments and is a world leader within the gas-tanker segment. The company is part of Hartmann AG that has diverse interests in the maritime transport and logistics sector such as dry bulk, product tankers, multi-purpose vessels and OSVs.