Mitsui-MAN ethane two-stroke engine completed

The first engine, a Mitsui-MAN B&W 7G50ME-C9.5-GIE, is one of three destined for installation on three 36,000m3 liquid ethylene carriers under construction at Sinopacific Offshore Engineering for Hartmann Schiffahrt and Ocean Yield.

According to MAN, ethane has been selected as the prime fuel due to its more competitive pricing as well as the significantly shorter bunkering time it entails. It contains negligible sulphur, 15-20% lower CO2 than HFO, and emits significantly less particulate matter. The engines can also be converted to burn methane very easily.

ME-GI engines have been designed for use with several fuel types to date – including LNG and (with the ME-LGI engine) methanol and LPG – ethane is a new departure. Along with propane and butane it is a natural-gas liquids (NGLs) found in natural gas and frequently separated and sold as a separate product.

Ethylene carriers are capable of carrying most liquefied gas cargoes, including ethylene at its boiling point of −104 °C. The vessels on order have insulated 5% nickel-steel cargo tanks and can accommodate most liquefied gas cargoes up to a maximum specific gravity of 1.8 at temperatures ranging from −104°C to 80°C, at a maximum tank pressure of 4 bar.

MAN Diesel & Turbo currently has eight ME-GIE engines on order.