MAJOR Chinese box carrier cosco is following in the pioneering footsteps of Danish shipping giant Maersk by embarking on a journey to retrofit some of its containerships for methanol propulsion, reports Rotterdam's Offshore Energy.
Cosco Line has partnered with compatriot China's Cosco Heavy Industry Shanghai, a Cosco Group shipyard, to retrofit four main engines of a containership quartet to methanol.
The vessels belong to Cosco Line's Camellia and Virgo class, boasting capacities of 13,800 and 20,000 TEU respectively.
The shipyard has signed a deal with engine manufacturing powerhouse MAN Energy Solutions for the dual-fuel methanol-powered ME-LGIM engines.
Currently equipped with single-fuel MAN B&W 11S90ME-C10.5 engines, the vessels will be retrofitted to dual-fuel MAN B&W 11S90ME-LGIM10.5 units capable of operating on fuel-oil or methanol. The retrofit is expected to make the ships the first vessels in Cosco's fleet to sail on methanol.
The contract also includes an option for the retrofit of an additional nine vessels from the line's 20,000-TEU Virgo and Pisces classes. Cosco Heavy Industry Shanghai Co Ltd will act as a complete turnkey solution provider for the Cosco Line retrofits.
MAN Energy Solutions will provide a solution package comprising engineering, parts, project management, onsite technical assistance at yard, sea-trial assistance, and recertification service for the engine retrofits. To this end, the company has undertaken an R&D programme and invested in a testbed to develop the Liquid Gas Injection Methanol (S90-LGIM) retrofit solution.
The first vessel of the series is scheduled for retrofit in the second quarter of 2025 when these vessels will also become the first fitted with S90-LGIM engines to sail the world's oceans.
SeaNews Turkey
Cosco Line has partnered with compatriot China's Cosco Heavy Industry Shanghai, a Cosco Group shipyard, to retrofit four main engines of a containership quartet to methanol.
The vessels belong to Cosco Line's Camellia and Virgo class, boasting capacities of 13,800 and 20,000 TEU respectively.
The shipyard has signed a deal with engine manufacturing powerhouse MAN Energy Solutions for the dual-fuel methanol-powered ME-LGIM engines.
Currently equipped with single-fuel MAN B&W 11S90ME-C10.5 engines, the vessels will be retrofitted to dual-fuel MAN B&W 11S90ME-LGIM10.5 units capable of operating on fuel-oil or methanol. The retrofit is expected to make the ships the first vessels in Cosco's fleet to sail on methanol.
The contract also includes an option for the retrofit of an additional nine vessels from the line's 20,000-TEU Virgo and Pisces classes. Cosco Heavy Industry Shanghai Co Ltd will act as a complete turnkey solution provider for the Cosco Line retrofits.
MAN Energy Solutions will provide a solution package comprising engineering, parts, project management, onsite technical assistance at yard, sea-trial assistance, and recertification service for the engine retrofits. To this end, the company has undertaken an R&D programme and invested in a testbed to develop the Liquid Gas Injection Methanol (S90-LGIM) retrofit solution.
The first vessel of the series is scheduled for retrofit in the second quarter of 2025 when these vessels will also become the first fitted with S90-LGIM engines to sail the world's oceans.
SeaNews Turkey