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MAN Diesel & Turbo reports that Hong Kong-based Seaspan Corporation has placed an order for 7 + 18 newbuild container ships due to be built at Jiangsu YangZiJiang Shipbuilding. The 10,000 TEU vessels will be powered by the new 'super long-stroke' engine type MAN B&W 10S90ME-C9, which is said to produce an energy efficiency increase of approximately 7 percent.

Traditionally, MAN Diesel & Turbo K98-type engines have been used by 8,000-10,000 teu capacity container vessels. Following efficiency optimization trends in the market, where container ships have increasingly adopted lower ship speeds, the engine designer evaluated the possibility of using even larger propellers with a view to using engines with even lower speeds for propulsion.

Investigations revealed that container ships are indeed compatible with propellers with larger propeller diameters than current designs, and the high efficiencies that follow an adaptation of the aft-hull design to accommodate the larger propeller.

According to MAN Diesel & Turbo, the new higher-powered, super long-stroke S90ME-C9 engine type meets this trend in the market. MAN Diesel & Turbo investigations indicate an overall efficiency increase of around 7 percent when using the S90ME-C9, compared with existing main engines, depending on the propeller diameter used.

Choice of engine

Canada based Seaspan Shipmanagement Ltd. has been in close dialogue with MAN Diesel & Turbo to decide upon main engines for its expanding fleet of newbuilding container ships.

The owner initially considered the MAN B&W K98ME-C engine, but ultimately settled for the super long-stroke 10S90ME-C9 type on account of its superior fuel savings, a choice that required a redesign of the newbuildings’ aft-ship to accommodate the lower engine rpm and larger propeller diameter. The yard and its design partner changed the design accordingly.

Seaspan has previously built ships at YangZiJiang Shipbuilding with 6K80MC-C engines built by CMD in China.

Ole Grøne, Senior Vice President Promotion & Sales, MAN Diesel & Turbo said: “We continuously keep a close eye on developments and trends within the shipping sector and have watched with interest the increasing demand for lower engine speeds and larger propeller diameters within the container segment. While our portfolio of engines already matches a broad reach of requirements, we have specifically introduced the super long-stroke S90ME-C9 to market to satisfy current trends and are very happy with its immediate adoption in the major shipbuilding markets.”

The MAN B&W 10S90ME-C9.2 engines to be installed in Seaspan’s newbuildings will also feature MAN TCA turbochargers built in Augsburg, Germany.