AFTER 88 days at the Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard in China, the conversion of Maersk's 14,000-TEU maersk Halifax into a methanol dual-fuel vessel has been completed, enabling the ship to return to operation, reports Rotterdam's Offshore Energy.
As part of what was described as the industry's first methanol dual-fuel conversion project, Maersk Halifax entered the Chinese shipyard in July this year for the three-month conversion and upgrade process.
The retrofit operation was completed at the end of October and the Maersk Halifax departed anchorage at the yard on November 4.
Following the completion of sea trials, the containership has returned to operation, servicing the transpacific trade, according to Maersk's fleet management chief Leonardo Sonzio.
As reported earlier, Germany's MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) conducted the engine conversion. Besides replacing machine parts and enabling the engine to operate on methanol, the retrofit operation also involved adding new fuel tanks, a fuel preparation room, and a fuel supply system.
In addition, the hull was expanded to accommodate the fuel tanks, extending the ship's length by 15 metres to 368 metres and increasing the capacity from around 15,000 to 15,690 TEU.
'Retrofits of existing vessels can be an important alternative to newbuilds in our transition from fossil fuels to low-emission fuels,' said Mr Sonzio.
SeaNews Turkey
As part of what was described as the industry's first methanol dual-fuel conversion project, Maersk Halifax entered the Chinese shipyard in July this year for the three-month conversion and upgrade process.
The retrofit operation was completed at the end of October and the Maersk Halifax departed anchorage at the yard on November 4.
Following the completion of sea trials, the containership has returned to operation, servicing the transpacific trade, according to Maersk's fleet management chief Leonardo Sonzio.
As reported earlier, Germany's MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) conducted the engine conversion. Besides replacing machine parts and enabling the engine to operate on methanol, the retrofit operation also involved adding new fuel tanks, a fuel preparation room, and a fuel supply system.
In addition, the hull was expanded to accommodate the fuel tanks, extending the ship's length by 15 metres to 368 metres and increasing the capacity from around 15,000 to 15,690 TEU.
'Retrofits of existing vessels can be an important alternative to newbuilds in our transition from fossil fuels to low-emission fuels,' said Mr Sonzio.
SeaNews Turkey