One goal of the cooperation between MAN Energy Solutions and the China Classification Society is to establish the MAN L21/31 DF-M methanol-powered dual-fuel engine more firmly on the Chinese market.
To this end, the manufacturer has signed a subcontract with the China Classification Society (CCS). The ceremony took place online on 27 February. [ds_preview]
The two parties had already agreed on a strategic framework agreement in Beijing in September 2023. This framework agreement on decarbonization and digitalization in the maritime industry has a term of five years.
The new subcontract – now the third between the two companies – relates to the new MAN L21/31DF-M (dual-fuel methanol) GenSet, which was developed at the Danish site in Holeby. It provides for cooperation between the two companies to strengthen the new engine in the Chinese market, including all activities for the type approval test, which is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2024 in China.
The engine manufacturer’s classification department in Copenhagen hosted the signing ceremony. Jiang Botao, Marine Product Department General Manager, and Sun Qun, Jiangsu Plan Approval Center Manager, signed on behalf of CCS, while Finn Fjeldhøj, Senior Manager and Site Manager, Holeby, and Lars Ascanius, Senior Manager, Two-Stroke Engine Life Cycle Management, signed for MAN Energy Solutions.
Further subcontracts may follow
The strategic framework agreement is designed to allow both companies to add subcontracts as required. Since the original signing and prior to this new agreement, the two companies have added two subcontracts. The first concerns the introduction of the MAN two-stroke methanol engine to the global CCS fleet. The second concerns the changes to the class rules for the global CCS fleet.
The 21/31DF-M GenSet is based on a simple intake manifold injection concept that optimises reliability while minimising investment time. The new L21/31DF-M is based on the existing L21/31 GenSet, which has accumulated more than 55 million operating hours with thousands of engines in service. In addition, the L21/31DF-M’s power range extends from 1,000 to 1,980 kW, making it suitable for most commercial vessels.
MAN and CCS cooperate for more sustainability
Jiang Botao explains: “As a world-renowned manufacturer of marine equipment, MAN Energy Solutions is a leader in the technological development of alternative fuel ship propulsion systems and has long been one of CCS’s most important partners. The introduction of the MAN L21/31 DF-M methanol-powered dual-fuel engine offers shipping companies more opportunities to achieve their decarbonization goals. We greatly appreciate MAN Energy Solutions’ contribution and are convinced that the collaboration between MAN and CCS on alternative fuel engines will contribute to a more sustainable future in the global maritime industry.”
Sun Qun adds: “The interest in methanol-powered ships has increased significantly in recent years, as methanol is an important alternative fuel for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We are very pleased to be working with MAN Energy Solutions, the leading provider of marine propulsion solutions, on this methanol-powered dual-fuel engine. It will play a major role in ship safety and decarbonization. CCS is fully committed to working with MAN Energy Solutions to complete the approval and delivery of this methanol-powered dual-fuel engine type.”
According to the engine manufacturer, the MAN L21/31 engine has been sold around 2,750 times to date and is well-established on the market. As there is currently an increasing interest in methanol as a fuel for ships, the introduction of this dual-fuel engine comes “at exactly the right time”. The cooperation with CCS will provide excellent support for the launch of the new MAN L21/31 DF-M variant on the Chinese market, it is said.
