In the context of the “Sea Shuttle” project for the construction of two hydrogen-powered remote-controlled and autonomous container ships, the European shortsea shipping company Samskip has selected high-performance engines from MAN Energy Solutions to support the diesel-electric propulsion system.
India’s largest shipyard, Cochin Shipyard(CSL), has ordered two 12V175D variable speed gensets from the engine manufacturer for the construction of two shortsea feeder vessels for the international logistics company Samskip Group, headquartered in Rotterdam,[ds_preview].
The ships will be the first in the world to be powered by propulsion systems based on hydrogen fuel cells with an output of 3.2 MW each. The gensets from MAN provide support and function as a diesel-electric propulsion system with a permanent magnet generator.
The 135 m long ships with a capacity of 500 TEU are scheduled for delivery in the third and fourth quarters of 2025 and will operate between the Oslo Fjord and Rotterdam, a distance of around 700 nautical miles. They will also be remote-controllable and offer options for autonomous driving.
MAN engines can run on biofuels such as HVO and B100
“This is a groundbreaking project that sets new standards in the field of environmentally friendly shipping,” emphasizes Florian Keiler, Head of High Speed, MAN Energy Solutions. “This allows our engines to run on biofuels such as HVO and B100 – another step on our green path to decarbonization.”
The “175D” genset with variable speed is characterized by high efficiency, even at low loads, high fuel efficiency and low emissions. As the engine with the lowest total cost of ownership on the market according to the manufacturer, the high-speed engines will each be equipped with a compact, flexible and closed SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) system. Furthermore, according to MAN Energy Solutions, the engines not only have the lowest lubricating oil consumption in this segment, but are also characterized by long oil change and major overhaul intervals (TBO) in their class.
