BW LPG has announced that it has converted the main engine of the BW Malacca to dual-fuel running. The last such conversion for a series of 15 LPG carriers, the ship’s MAN B&W 6G60ME-C9.2 type engine was retrofitted to an MAN B&W 6G60ME-C9.5-LGIP dual-fuel type capable of operating on fuel oil and LPG.
The work was carried out at Yiu Lian Dockyards in Shenzhen, China, in conjunction with the vessel’s scheduled, five-year docking and under the supervision of MAN PrimeServ, MAN Energy Solutions’ after-sales division. The BW Malacca has since passed sea trials.
“We could not have accomplished this ambitious project on our own,” said Pontus Berg, executive vice president (Technical) at BW LPG. “Our success lies in close collaboration with many experts in their field – MAN Energy Solutions and Yiu Lian Dockyards are two of many partners we thank for their support over the years. BW LPG now serves customers with the world’s largest fleet of LPG dual-fuel propulsion LPG carriers. Powered by LPG, these vessels are not only making tangible reductions in carbon emissions, but also helping our bottom-line in terms of savings on compliant fuel expenses in a high-cost supply situation.”
“It’s very satisfying that this series of conversions has been successfully concluded with all options exercised and within the agreed timeframe – despite pandemic restrictions,” added Michael Petersen, senior vice president and head of PrimeServ Denmark at MAN Energy Solutions. “Retrofitting these ships also avoids the unnecessary building of additional tonnage.”
MAN Energy Solutions reports that ME-LGIP engines have now surpassed 120 orders, with 35 already in service. Indeed, the vast majority of current orders for LPG carriers over 30,000m3 are with ME-LGIP technology, enabling these vessels to use their own cargo as fuel.
“As a low-carbon fuel, LPG is well on its way to becoming the new market standard in this segment,” continued Petersen. “As we move toward a zero-carbon future amid a strong, global push toward sustainability, these conversions showcase our dual-fuel engine portfolio that is futureproofed to handle whatever alternative fuels come to prominence in the decades ahead.”
