MAN passes dual-fuel engine milestones

Launched in 2009, the 51/60DF engine  comes in a range of classes from 6.3 to 20.7MW and can run on a wide variety of fuels including natural gas, biogas, bio-fuel, synthetic fuels, distillates and heavy fuel oil.

According to the company, there are now 310 of the dual-fuel engines in service, an increase of almost 100 units since 2022. “This is a significant milestone that stands testimony to the character of this engine,” said Stefan Eefting, head of MAN PrimeServ Germany.

“The 51/60DF has become a fixture in shipping and power-plant operation and stands for absolute reliability – even in high ambient temperatures. Switching between the different fuels happens more or less at the touch of a button and is possible at any point between zero and 100 per cent load without any loss of power or frequency shift.”

“Fuel flexibility is a must for modern engines,” he continued. “The 51/60DF is already operating on heavy fuel oil, marine diesel and liquid biofuel, biogas and green synthetic gas.

“In the coming years, it will also be capable of operation on other especially green synthetic fuels as methanol and by that contribute to the decarbonisation of the energy and maritime sectors.”

Methanol gensets order

The company has also received an order for three dual-fuel methanol gensets. The three MAN 6L21/31DF-M engines will from part of a diesel-electric propulsion system on board a 7,990 dwt chemical tanker.

MAN Energy Solutions’ licensee, CMP – an engine-manufacturing division of Chinese State Shipbuilding Corporation – will build the engines in China and the vessel is scheduled for delivery during Q4, 2025 to the Port of Singapore.

“The MAN L21/31 engine is well-established in the market having racked up some 2,750 sales,” said Thomas S. Hansen – head of sales and promotion – MAN Energy Solutions.

“With the shipping market currently experiencing an increased interest in methanol as marine fuel, and orders for methanol-fuelled ships steadily growing as part of many companies’ decarbonisation strategy, we feel that the introduction of this dual-fuel engine is timely.” or