ABS-classed marine diesel engine converted to operate on ethane

Navigator Gas, in partnership with Charterer Borealis, engine manufacturer MAN Energy Solutions, cargo system and fuel gas supply system provider TGE Marine Gas Engineering and ABS, has completed the successful conversion of the Navigator Aurora’s main engine from heavy fuel oil (HFO)/LNG fuelling to ethane fuelling, while berthed alongside at Frederikshavn, Denmark.

The Navigator Aurora is a 35 000 m³ ethylene/LPG Carrier. It was 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 that burning ethane in the Navigator ME-GI engines would be possible. The trials demonstrated that suitable power and emissions performance, meeting classification and statutory requirements, was available at a fuel gas injection pressure of just over 300 bar.

Paul Flaherty, Director of Fleet and Technical operations, Navigator Gas, said: “This retrofit modification will comply with all current global emissions regulations and position us as early adopters of the global sulfur cap regulation due to come into force on 1 January 2020.”

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/24082018/abs-classed-marine-diesel-engine-converted-operate-ethane/