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International classification society Bureau Veritas is to class the first LNG fuel conversion of a container ship.

Germany's Wessels Reederei GmbH is to convert one of its fleet of 1,036-TEU container vessels, the MV Wes Amelie [pictured], to LNG as fuel. Bureau Veritas is to class the undertaking, which will be the world's first conversion of a boxship to LNG.

The project is sponsored by the German Ministry of Transport; partners in the project are: Wessels Reederei, MAN Diesel & Turbo, TGE Marine Gas Engineering, SMB Naval Architects & Consultants and Bureau Veritas.

Commenting on the development, Philippe Donche-Gay, President of Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore Division, said: "Our experience with this kind of conversion on small-scale LNG vessels helps the owners and other partners to move confidently to this new and cleaner fuel."

Gerd Wessels, Managing Owner of Wessels Reederei, remarked: "With the conversion to LNG we and our partners showcase our technical expertise and demonstrate practical environmental solutions for the merchant marine industry."

The Wes Amelie has a MAN 8 L 48/60B engine driving a controlled-pitch propeller via gearing. MAN will convert the existing engine to a 51/60 DF dual-fuel engine. The LNG tank of around 500 cubic metres will be located in the fore part of the vessel to limit the loss of cargo capacity.

Tecnitas, the consulting arm of Bureau Veritas, is carrying out a risk assessment of the new LNG-as-fuel system and LNG bunkering operations.

Following the conversion, the Wes Amelie will meet Tier III of Marpol Annex 6 regulation. The conversion is scheduled to take place in 2017.