The main engine fitted to the Kaimana Hila vessel (above) operated by the Matson Navigation Company will be converted from a MAN B&W S90ME-C10.5 unit to a dual-fuel ME-GI unit which can run using LNG to reduce emissions.
The option for the retrofit was contained in a previous contract signed between Matson Navigation and MAN Energy Solutions in June 2022 which would result in the same conversion being carried out on the Kaimana Hila’s sister ship, the Daniel K. Inouye.
MAN PrimeServ will perform the retrofit on board the 3,600 TEU vessel. Matson’s decision comes shortly after it announced the construction of three LNG-powered vessels which will also use ME-GI engines for propulsion.
“This order is the latest example in an increasing trend of owners choosing dual-fuel retrofits for their existing vessels in service to achieve fleet-transformation goals while simultaneously gaining benefits in terms of upcoming regulations such as CII and EEXI,” said Klaus Rasmussen, head of projects and PVU sales, MAN PrimeServ.
“Retrofitting a MAN B&W engine to dual-fuel running is straightforward as our standard, electronically controlled diesel engines are constructed as ‘dual-fuel ready’ and therefore readily retrofittable. Such retrofits offer a viable pathway to shipowners that wish to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint by 2050.”
“This will be the third vessel Matson is retrofitting with dual-fuel LNG capability,” added Capt. Jack Sullivan, senior vice president, vessel operations and engineering, Matson. “Each retrofit is a meaningful step toward achieving our corporate sustainability goals to achieve a 40% reduction in Scope 1 greenhouse gas fleet emissions by 2030 and net-zero Scope 1 GHG emissions by 2050.”