Wessels Reederei's world-first LNG boxship conversion; more to follow

The world’s first container ship retrofitted with an LNG engine has been successfully launched. Wes Amelie – owned by Wessels Reederei – has undergone an LNG engine conversion at the German Dry Docks in Bremerhaven. LNG experts from the Hamburg-based company Nauticor were selected to conduct the vessel’s initial LNG bunkering at the Kühlhauskai in the Port of Bremerhaven. In total, four trucks of LNG were brought to the German port and transferred to the vessel. Director of the LNG portfolio at Nauticor, Sonja Neßhöver said: “Due to the smooth co-operation between the ship’s crew, the Bremenports team, and our experienced specialists, the initial bunkering was a complete success.” With the conversion of the 1,000 TEU vessel, Wessels Reederei is a frontrunner in the use of LNG as fuel for container ships in northwest Europe. The conversion was supported by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure and is likely to be extended to other ships in the fleet. Nauticor managing director Mahinde Abeynaike said “With the conversion of Wes Amelie Wessels Reederei has become a pioneer in establishing LNG as fuel for container ships. We are happy to support that effort and are looking forward to future co-operation, taking into consideration that our second LNG bunker vessel will start operations in northwest Europe next year with a focus on customers in the North Sea and Baltic Sea.” Wes Amelie - like its 15 identical sister ships - is operating on the feeder routes between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.