- The world’s first conversion of a large containership to LNG as fuel has been completed, German liner company Hapag-Lloyd has confirmed.
- The 15,000 TEU vessel Sajir, now renamed Brussels Express, departed the Chinese shipyard Huarun Dadong Dockyard Co. and is now heading toward Busan, Korea.
Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd has started using the world’s first ultra-large containership LNG retrofit on its Asia-North Europe trade lane, reports Offshore Energy.
Debut journey to Brussels Express
The 15,000 TEU Brussels Express, previously known as Sajir, was on Tuesday located in the Port of Busan in South Korea, its AIS data shows.
According to Hapag-Lloyd’s schedule for the vessel posted on its website, Brussels Express should reach Rotterdam around May 9. Prior to that, it will sail again to China followed by a call in Singapore on April 17.
The vessel completed gas trials last week and departed from Hudong-Zhonghua’s outfitting quay on Changxing Island, Shanghai to South Korea. Hudong and Huarun Dadong delivered the vessel to the owner last week.
MAN dual-fuel propulsion
To remind, Hapag-Lloyd selected Hudong for the conversion project back in 2019 while Huarun Dadong, where Hudong is a shareholder, was in charge of the development.
The vessel now features a GTT 6,500-cbm LNG fuel tank and MAN dual-fuel propulsion. It will primarily sail on LNG with low-sulphur fuel oil as a backup.
Total costs for the containership conversion to LNG power reached about $35 million, according to Hapag-Lloyd.
This pilot project will help Hapag-Lloyd to decide on future LNG conversions but also paves the way for other owners looking to slash emissions and comply with more stringent IMO rules.
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Source: Offshore Energy
