The first in a series of six LNG-powered containerships being built for Singapore’s Eastern Pacific Shipping has completed gas trials in South Korea.
The neo-Panamax ship Tenere will go on charter to CMA CGM that is adding a series of giant LNG-fueled vessels.
The French firm will charter all of the six 15,000 TEU vessels slated for delivery from Hyundai Samho by 2022.
The 366 meters long ships have several new additions and will feature new MAN B&W 11G90 ME-GI engines.
Germany’s MAN Energy Solutions says these engines have “negligible” methane-slip and are first to include new pump vaporizer unit.
The two-stroke engines can operate both on gas or diesel fuel with a maximum power rating of 68,640 kW.
Furthermore, MAN says these are the largest and most powerful gas engines it has produced to date.
EPS chief Cyril Ducau said the on-schedule delivery of the new vessel makes for an important MAN and EPS milestone.
He noted that the firm committed to investing in alternative fuels such as LNG three years ago.
Shipowners are increasingly opting for LNG as fuel to comply with IMO rules and slash emissions.
Ducau said these vessels would be IMO 2030 compliant “years ahead of schedule and will be the cleanest vessels of their category on-the-water today.”
