MAN methanol-ready 32/44CR engine wins RINA approval

Classification society, RINA, has granted an Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate to MAN Energy Solutions for its methanol-ready MAN L/V 32/44CR engine. The AiP covers an upgrade concept for the four-stroke engine for conversion to dual-fuel running on methanol to provide greater flexibility to shipowners. 

Patrizio Di Francesco, EMEA Special Projects Manager, RINA, said: “This AiP is based on our recently published Methyl Alcohol Fuelled Ready notation. Methanol is a fuel with a lot of potential as clean, carbon-neutral fuel and the industry is already showing concrete appreciation of it. The successful cooperation with MAN is a further step towards the availability of future-proof solutions for shipowners.”

Elvis Ettenhofer, Head of New Marine Solutions, MAN Energy Solutions, said: “This approval by RINA is significant as we move towards net zero. A major advantage of our four-stroke portfolio is its inherent retrofit potential, which enables us to provide shipowners with cost-effective solutions and flexibility regarding future fuels. In this latter respect, there is no doubt but that interest in methanol is growing and that it will have a prominent role to play within shipping.”

Methanol has several, physical advantages as a fuel, including a liquid state at ambient temperatures and its accordingly easy handling aboard vessels, compared to gaseous fuels. Under combustion, methanol also emits fewer NO_x emissions and no SO_x nor soot emissions.

In preparation for the fuels that will power a decarbonised future, MAN Energy Solutions is also developing solutions for methanol, which can become carbon-neutral if synthesised with green hydrogen.

Finally, methanol is also much less hazardous to marine life compared with conventional marine fuels. The AiP certificate permits the use of outer ship hulls as bunker tanks, thereby increasing fuel-storage capacity on-board.

MAN: first order for G80 dual-fuel methanol engine

Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co. and HJ Shipbuilding & Construction Co. (HJSC) have respectively ordered seven and two MAN B&W G80ME-LGIM dual-fuel engines in connection with the construction of 9 × 9,000 teu container vessels for HMM Co., the major South Korean integrated-logistics company. 

The engines, which are capable of operation on green methanol and conventional fuel-oil, represent the first order for the G80 bore size; they will also feature MAN Energy Solutions’ proprietary EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) systems. The newbuildings will be delivered to HMM from 2025 and will operate on routes to North and South America as well as India. The G80 engines will, upon delivery, be connectivity-ready and prepared for digital services such as PrimeServ Assist.

Along with the new order, HMM has also signed MoUs with multiple fuel suppliers to ensure the methanol supply for the vessels. In this regard, according to the Methanol Institute (MI), more than 80 renewable methanol projects globally are projected to produce more than 8m metric tons of e-methanol and bio-methanol annually by 2027.