Engine break-through in China

Two major orders for a total of 12 engines have been placed with Chinese shipyards both calling for Mitsui-built K98-cm bore engines of MAN B&W Diesel design.

The first project is at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) which is building four 8,500 TEU container ships with up to four options for China Shipping Group, one of China?s largest shipping lines. These ships are due for completion by 2008 and will be equipped with 12K98MC-C engines with an output of 68,520kW.

The second project is 2 + 2 container vessels also for delivery in 2008. The 4,250 TEU vessels are to be built by New Century Shipbuilding in Jing Jiang City, China, for Bremen-based German owner Hanseatic Lloyd Schiffahrt GmbH. These ships will be equipped with the 8K98MC-C engine with an output of 45,680kW.

All the engines for the two projects are to be built by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding in Japan which has worked closely with MAN B&W Diesel since 1926 when the first licensee contract was drawn up.