Wärtsilä to retrofit Chevron’s LNG carriers for lower methane slip

Finnish engine maker Wärtsilä has partnered with Chevron Shipping to convert one engine on six of Chevron Transport’s LNG carriers from dual-fuel (DF) to spark gas (SG) operation.

PHOTO: Chevron’s LNG carrier Asian Energy. Wärtsilä

These conversions aim to reduce methane slip, which occurs when unburned methane from ship engines escapes into the atmosphere. Since methane slip from an engine is unintentional and often goes unmeasured, it poses a serious environmental threat due to methane’s high global warming potential. Methane is up to 36 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a century, according to a World Bank study.

Wärtsilä’s DF to SG conversion project is designed to modify existing engines to operate in spark gas (SG) mode, where combustion is initiated with spark ignition instead of diesel pilot fuel. In SG mode, the engine runs primarily on LNG, ignited by a spark plug, allowing for a more efficient combustion process, which reduces methane slip.

Wärtsilä secured the order for the first two vessel conversions in the third quarter of 2024, with the remaining four to follow.

By Tuhin Roy

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