MAN sees demand for methanol grow

This order raises the total number of G95ME-C10.5-LGIM methanol engine orders to 95 across various shipyards in South Korea, China and Japan since the engine’s introduction in 2021. Five of these engines have already been deployed on VLCVs.

“Interest in methanol is taking off for newbuildings and retrofits,” explained Peter Quaade, head of Dual-Fuel Engine Group, Two-Stroke Engine Support, MAN Energy Solutions.

“The world’s first methanol engine retrofit – a G95ME-LGIM type – is currently undergoing sea-trials in China, which we anticipate will increase interest in this approach to decarbonisation.”

Bjarne Foldager, country manager for Denmark at MAN Energy Solutions, emphasised the marine industry’s shift toward a multi-fuel future, highlighting the need for diverse pathways to achieve significant greenhouse gas reductions.

“Methanol is one of the low- and zero-carbon fuels that will underpin shipping’s quest for decarbonisation, and we expect it to play a prominent role across all vessel segments,” he said.

Earlier this year, MAN hosted an event discussing its methanol-fuelled 4-stroke engine and the fuel also makes up for 13% of its 2-stroke engine orders.

The ME-LGIM engine operates on both methanol and conventional fuel. It is based on the well-established ME-series, with approximately 8,500 engines in service.

Currently, over 210 ME-LGIM engines are either on order or in service, reinforcing the commitment to sustainable maritime operations.