- MITSUI E&S begins testing the world’s first commercial two-stroke dual-fuel ammonia engine.
- The MAN B&W 7S60ME-LGIA Mk 10.5 will power a 200,000-dwt bulk carrier.
- The engine meets IMO Tier III standards with a High-Pressure Selective Catalytic Reduction system.
- Industry leaders see ammonia joining methanol and methane as a key alternative fuel.
MITSUI E&S has entered a crucial phase in developing ammonia-powered propulsion by commencing tests for the MAN B&W 7S60ME-LGIA Mk 10.5 prototype engine at its Tamano Factory in Japan. The engine, with a 60-bore design, is slated for installation on a 200,000-dwt bulk carrier built by Imabari Shipbuilding for a joint venture among “K” LINE, NS United, and ITOCHU Corp. It features MAN Energy Solutions’ High-Pressure Selective Catalytic Reduction (HPSCR) system, ensuring compliance with IMO Tier III emissions regulations, according to MAN Energy Solutions.
The Role of Ammonia in Maritime Decarbonization
Ammonia is emerging as a promising fuel for reducing maritime greenhouse gas emissions. Bjarne Foldager, Head of Two-Stroke Business at MAN Energy Solutions, notes that when combined with biofuel oil as a pilot fuel, ammonia can achieve carbon-neutral combustion. With multiple engine orders already secured across Asia, the industry anticipates that ammonia will soon join methanol and methane as a major alternative fuel.
Safety, Performance, and Market Readiness
The current test phase focuses on verifying the safety and performance of MITSUI E&S’s independently developed ammonia fuel supply system and related technologies. Building on extensive single-cylinder tests conducted at MAN Energy Solutions’ Research Centre Copenhagen, Ole Pyndt Hansen, Head of Two-Stroke R&D, emphasizes that operational sea trials will be key to fine-tuning the engine’s reliability. Commercial market introduction of the ammonia-powered ME-LGIA engines in various bore sizes is expected by the end of 2026, pending further testing and shipbuilding schedules.
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Source: MAN Energy Solutions
