Image: MAN Diesel & Turbo

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MAN Diesel & Turbo has been selected to provide a complete propulsion package and fuel-gas system for the world's first fishing vessel with LNG propulsion.

An 86-metre newbuid purse-seiner, the Libas, is to feature a MAN 6L51/60DF main engine, Renk gearbox, MAN Alpha propeller system and MAN Cryo LNG fuel-gas system with a 350-cubic-metre (cbm) tank.

The vessel, which is to be built by Cemre Shipyard in Istanbul, was ordered by Norwegian fishing group Liegruppen and the concept put together by Salt Ship Design.

Wayne Jones, Chief Sales Officer with MAN Diesel & Turbo, said: "This is a pioneering project. At MAN we are convinced that low-emission gas fuels are the silver bullet to decarbonising the shipping industry and we have made it our mission to guide our customers through that transition."

Lex Nijsen, Head of Four-Stroke Marine, MAN Diesel & Turbo, remarked: "This is a very noteworthy win. Our ability to provide this efficient, low-emission, proven LNG-fuelled propulsion package - a world's first for this environmentally sensitive segment - really puts our credentials as a system provider on display."

Fuel-gas system

The scope of the MAN Cryo fuel-gas system covers:

- 350-cbm, vacuum-insulated cylindrical type C tank

- TCS/coldbox with process equipment, manifold and instrumentation

- Emergency shut-down system

- Bunker station for supply of LNG to tank.

The system is designed for a net tank volume of 330 cbm of LNG and temperatures down to minus 163C. The tank stores LNG at the lowest possible temperature and pressure until it is evaporated and supplied to the dual-fuel MAN 6L51/60DF main engine, as consumption demands.

MAN L51/60DF

MAN Diesel & Turbo's uprated MAN L51/60DF engine successfully passed its Type Approval Test at the end of 2017 where a nine-cylinder test engine had an output of 1,150 kW/cylinder at a nominal speed of 500/514 rpm.

The engine can be employed both as marine main-engine and auxiliary engine and ran on both DMA fuel and natural gas on the testbed.

Fully behind LNG

The delivery of the new LNG-propulsion package is part of MAN's engagement for the establishment of LNG as a shipping fuel.

MAN's call for a 'Maritime Energy Transition' encapsulates its call to action to reduce emissions and establish natural gas as the fuel of choice in global shipping. The company considers the use of natural gas as a bunker fuel as the most promising way to support the goal of a climate-neutral shipping industry.

Launched in 2016 after COP 21, the Maritime Energy Transition initiative is also an umbrella covering all MAN Diesel & Turbo activities in regard to supporting climate-neutral shipping, including:

- The retrofitting of the 'Wes Amelie' feeder containership's MAN 51/60DF engine to dual-fuel gas operation - the first such conversion of its type in the world;

- The development of MAN Diesel & Turbo's two-stroke ME-GI/ME-LGI engine portfolio to enable dual-fuel operation on, primarily, natural gas but also on alternative gaseous and liquid fuels such as LNG, methane, ethane, methanol and ethanol;

- The development of synthetic fuels created with renewable energy (i.e. power-to-gas) - another technology the company considers to have great CO2-reduction potential. Here, MAN Diesel & Turbo is closely collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy to create a research programme.

Furthermore, in 2015, MAN Diesel & Turbo purchased and fully integrated the fuel gas specialist Cryo AB. Under the brand MAN Cryo, the company has since then offered systems for the storage, distribution and handling of liquefied gases.

Earlier this month, MAN Diesel & Turbo was announced as the latest member of SEA\LNG, the multi-sector industry coalition aiming to accelerate the widespread adoption of LNG as a marine fuel.

Commenting on the news at the time, MAN Diesel & Turbo's CEO, Dr Uwe Lauber, said SEA\LNG's vision is 'well aligned' with his company's strategy.