Tianjin Southwest opts for further LPG retrofits

The retrofit option was included in a contract signed with MAN Energy Solutions’s after-sales division, MAN PrimeServ, in October 2022 relating to the retrofit of two LPG carriers to dual-fuel operation.

The contract related to the retrofit of individual MAN B&W 6G60ME-C engines to dual-fuel MAN B&W 6G60ME-LGIP units capable of running on LPG aboard Gas Libra and Gas Scorpio. The vessels are scheduled to enter drydock in January 2024.

As with the previous two vessels, MAN PrimeServ will jointly carry out the work with CMS (CSSC Marine Service Co. Ltd.), the after-sales subsidiary of CSSC Marine Power Group.

Per Rud – Senior Vice President, MAN PrimeServ – said: “It’s crucial to nurture partnerships to successfully pull off dual-fuel retrofit projects and we are very happy to collaborate with CMS on these vessel retrofits. Significantly, this will be our first time working with a licensee’s own after-sales division; the after-sales market should know that MAN PrimeServ is open to working with partners in order to support shipowners globally. Our negotiations with CMS have concluded to our mutual satisfaction and will strengthen our partnership.”

The capacity of Chinese yards to successfully carry out dual-fuel retrofits was demonstrated by the recent completion of the last of a series of 15 LPG carrier dual-fuel conversions at Yiu Lian Dockyards in Shenzhen. The series of retrofits were commissioned by Oslo-listed BW LPG following the successful conversion of the main engine of the BW Malacca to dual-fuel operation in 2022, under MAN PrimeServ’s supervision.

Klaus Rasmussen, Head of Projects and PVU Sales, MAN PrimeServ, said: “Switching to low-carbon fuel is the most effective way to decarbonise the existing maritime fleet. In this respect, dual-fuel retrofits are an excellent device for shipowners to maintain their assets’ value moving forward. Additionally, for Very Large Gas Carriers, their ability to operate off their own cargo makes for a very positive business case. Before the original signing of this contract, Tianjin Southwest had already ordered six vessels powered by ME-LGIP main engines and LPG is quickly becoming the de facto standard in this segment. Currently, we estimate that there are over 150 VLGCs with single-fuel engine technology that could benefit from conversion to LPG-running.”