J-ENG To Add NH3 and Conventional 60-Bore Variants To LSH Range

The new engine will a fourth in the LSH series, following the 50LSH type, the 42LSH type and the new 33LSH engine.

J-ENG has also announced that it will concurrently develop a 60-bore ammonia-fuelled engine variant, UEC60LSJA, alongside the conventional fuel oil-fuelled 60LSH version. The UEC60LSJA type is expected to be brought to market after 2026.

The the introduction of a 60-bore variant means that J-ENG would be able to cover the entire layout points for ship designers to include an ammonia engine in very large gas carriers (VLGC), pure car and truck carriers (PCTC), container feeders, Panamax and Newcastlemax bulkers and LR1 and LR2 tankers. 

The development of the 60-bore variant is expected to meet an expected increase in demand from the large ammonia carrier segment. J-ENG notes that it expected the international ammonia market to expand towards the end of the currrent decade and at the beginning of the next decade as demand for ammonia from the agricultural supply chain and from the thermal power market (where ammonia can be co-fired alongside other feedstocks) expands. This is likely to lead to the introduction of larger capacity ammonia carriers, as well as an overall increase in the number of vessels in the ammonia carrier fleet.

The ammonia engine development will proceed alongside the development of J-ENG’s first 50-bore ammonia-fuelled engine size, the UEC50LSJA, which it aims to complete in 2025.