BW TAKES UP OPTION FOR 3 MORE LPG-FUEL RETROFITS

The order will see a further three MAN B&W 6G60ME-C9.2 type engines converted to MAN B&W 6G60ME-C9.5-LGIP dual-fuel types, capable of operating on fuel oil and LPG.

MAN Energy Solutions announced the first four retrofit orders in September 2018 in advance of the official launch of the ME-LGIP engine at its Research Centre Copenhagen, and exchanged the contract publicly with BW LPG during the event. Two +4 options were subsequently confirmed with this new +3 option making a total of 15 vessels for ME-LGIP retrofits.

The confirmation of the latest option follows on the heels of the successful ME-LGIP conversion in late October 2020 of the main engine aboard BW LPG’s LPG carrier, BW Gemini, which made it the world’s first commercial vessel to be propelled by a two-stroke LPG dual-fuel engine.

BW LPG has previously commented on its choice of retrofits over newbuildings where Pontus Berg, Executive Vice President, Technical and Operations, LPG, said: “Retrofitting allows us to minimise our carbon footprint – the process emits up to 97% less carbon dioxide compared to a newbuilding construction. Retrofitting also means that we do not add additional tonnage that the world does not need. In addition, BW LPG’s fleet is already widely recognised amongst charterers for its efficiency, and so retrofitting its vessels to dual-fuel LPG would help to further reinforce the company’s strong reputation in this area.”

Bjarne Foldager, Senior Vice President and Head of Two-Stroke Business at MAN Energy Solutions, said: “We are very happy to confirm this option for a further three retrofits, which in great part is due to the recent successful conversion of the BW Gemini that has since re-entered service. There is no doubt but that we are moving towards a zero-carbon future with a strong global push towards sustainability. These new conversions display BW LPG’s commitment to decarbonisation and showcase our dual-fuel engine portfolio that is future-proofed to handle whatever alternative fuels come to prominence in the decades ahead.”

Foldager added: “Apart from the 15 retrofits for BW LPG, three new orders in November bring our current total of newbuilding orders for the ME-LGIP engine up to 51 – a number we expect to significantly increase this month [December 2020].