China Merchants orders dual-fuel methanol engines for two vehicle carriers

China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) has ordered two dual-fuel methanol engines from MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) for a pair of car and truck carriers.

PHOTO: Model of MAN Energy Solutions' methanol engine. MAN Energy Solutions

While MAN ES has designed and developed the engine type, they will be manufactured by China State Shipbuilding in China and become the first methanol engines built in China for this type of vehicle carriers.

China Merchants Heavy Industries (CMHI) will build the the two vehicle carriers for CMES. They will have 9,300 car equivalent unit-capacity and are set for deliveries in 2025 and 2026. The shipbuilding order includes an option for four additional vessels of this type, MAN ES says in a statement.

Dual-fuel engines have gained popularity as they provide shipowners with an option to run vessels on conventional oil-based fuels until alternatives with low- and zero-emission potential such as methanol are adequately tested in the industry.

“Interest in using methanol in ocean-going vessels is at an all-time high, especially in the container vessel segment but also in the vehicle-transport sector whose main players are moving to expand capacity driven by very strong Chinese car sales, and to renew their fleets in response to new emission regulations,” MAN ES' head of two-stroke business Bjarne Foldager says.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online