MAN Diesel & Turbo reports that its ME-GI engine has now passed another milestone with orders for more than 100 engines received. In its press release, issued on February 2, FLEX LNG announced fuel-efficient, two-stroke slow-speed ME-GI main engines as the propulsion system for two LNG carriers to be built at Samsung Heavy Industries. The expected delivery dates of the vessels have been postponed from Q1 2017 to Q1 and Q2 2018.
“With our ME-GI order book now having passed the 100-unit milestone, we view it as a sign that our confidence in this low-speed, dual-fuel engine concept has been both well-founded and well-timed, and that we are providing what the market desires. Indeed, it seems as if the ME-GI is set to become the new industry standard,” said Ole Grøne, Senior Vice President of Low-Speed Sales and Promotions, MAN Diesel & Turbo.
Moreover, the two ME-GI units (MAN B&W 8L70ME-GI types) recently successfully passed their Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) in Korea, and have now been installed aboard two 3,100-teu container vessels currently under construction in the United States. MAN reports that the testbed performance of the ME-GI engines exceeded expectations, providing tangible evidence of the soundness of the concept.
Grøne added: “The development process, partinacularly in relation to the seals associated with the gas-supply pressure, has been demanding but the successful FATs have shown that this challenge has been fully resolved. Overall, the ME-GI’s fuel-gas system has performed extremely well, confirming our expectations and the experience gained from various demonstrations and tests. We are confident that this engine will continue as the only demonstrated two-stroke, dual-fuel engine that has passed exhaustive testing.”
Source: MAN Diesel & Turbo
