The conversion of a slow-speed marine diesel engine to operate on ethane as a fuel has been successfully completed.
Navigator Gas, in partnership with charterer Borealis, engine manufacturer MAN Energy Solutions, cargo system and fuel gas supply system supplier TGE and class society ABS, has completed the successful conversion of the Navigator Aurora’s main engine from LNG fuelling to ethane fuelling, while berthed alongside at Frederikshavn in Denmark.
’s main engine from LNG fuelling to ethane fuelling, while berthed alongside at Frederikshavn in Denmark.Navigator Aurora is a 35,000 cu m ethylene/LPG carrier, delivered in August 2016, equipped with a MAN B&W 6S50ME-C8.2-GI dual fuel (HFO/LNG) burning engine, which has now been converted to a dual fuel (HFO/ethane) 6S50ME-C-GIE engine.
The 15-day long conversion followed engine performance and emissions testing at Kawasaki in Japan, to prove the principle that burning ethane in the Navigator ME-GI engines would be possible.
Paul Flaherty, director of fleet and technical operations at Navigator Gas, commented: “This retrofit modification will comply with all current global emissions regulations and position us as early adopters of the global sulphur cap regulation due to come into force on January 1 2020.”
