This 60-bore engine is destined for installation on a 200,000-dwt bulk carrier being built by Imabari Shipbuilding for a collaboration between "K" LINE, NS United, and ITOCHU Corp. The engine also incorporates MAN Energy Solutions' proprietary HPSCR (High Pressure Selective Catalytic Reduction) system to meet IMO Tier III emissions standards.
Bjarne Foldager, Head of Two-Stroke Business at MAN Energy Solutions, emphasized, "Using ammonia, which can achieve carbon-neutral combustion when paired with bio-fuel oil as pilot oil, marks a crucial step toward decarbonization, particularly in the maritime industry where greenhouse gas emission reduction is urgent. We've collaborated closely with MITSUI E&S on this pioneering project and have observed substantial external interest. MAN Energy Solutions has already secured multiple ammonia engine orders across Asia, and we believe ammonia will emerge as one of the three primary alternative fuels alongside methanol and methane."
The test phase also involves validating the safety and performance of MITSUI E&S's independently developed ammonia fuel-supply system and other ancillary systems.
Ole Pyndt Hansen, Head of Two-Stroke R&D at MAN Energy Solutions, added, "MITSUI E&S's testing builds on the results of extensive single-cylinder ammonia-fuel tests conducted at our Research Centre Copenhagen. It's thrilling to witness this project nearing commercial fruition. Ammonia's unique properties necessitate a meticulous approach, and we've taken all necessary precautions. Operational sea experience will be vital for refining the engine's performance and reliability, and its market introduction will hinge on positive service experience. We anticipate launching our 50-, 60-, 70-, and 80-bore ME-LGIA ammonia engines by late 2026, though the exact timing will align with respective shipbuilding schedules."
