Volkswagen’s MAN unveiled the ME-GA dual-fuel engine in March 2021, describing it as an Otto-cycle variant of the company’s ME-GI engine.
“With a view to expected changes in IMO regulations (IMO Green House Gas Strategy, MARPOL Annex VI, and the NO Technical Code 2008), to be adopted in April 2025, and the performance of our engines, we are constantly reviewing our product portfolio,” MAN said in a letter sent to its customers dated October 17.
According to MAN, this review would call for “significant” technical updates and investments for the G7OME-C10.5-GA type engine.
“Therefore, we have decided to no longer offer the G7OME-C10.5-GA engine as of October 18, 2024,” the engine maker said.
MAN said its commitment to provide “reliably operating engines is unaffected by this.”
“We will keep you updated about any other changes stemming from reviews of our engine portfolio,” MAN said.
“Please note that our ME-GI engine, which is commonly used on merchant ships, can serve as an alternative on large LNG carriers thanks to its high thermal efficiency and low methane emissions,” the company added.
More than 270 orders
In 2022, MAN said it had received 100 orders for its ME-GA engine since introducing it in 2021, all for LNG carriers.
Last year, MAN announced that the first ME-GA engine had completed gas trials aboard an LNG carrier built by HD Hyundai Samho for Norwegian shipping company Knutsen.
“Built by HHI-EMD, the Knutsen ME-GA engine comes equipped with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) that reduces methane slip emissions compared to first-generation, Otto-cycle engines without EGR,” MAN said at the time.
According to MAN’s website, the company has received more than 270 orders for ME-GA engines since May 2021.
Sources told LNG Prime the orders were mostly from South Korean yards, but one Chinese shipyard also booked MAN ME-GA engines for LNG carriers.
LNG Prime invited MAN to comment on the matter.
