They were two of the first vessels powered by dual-fuel ME-LGI (liquid gas injection methanol) engines operating on the alternative fuel.
In addition, the company reported that its combined ME-LGI-powered fleet has passed 50,000 operating hours using methanol.
The two methanol tankers are managed on timecharters for Waterfront Shipping and operate globally, shipping methanol.
Bjarne Foldager, Senior Vice President, Head of 2-Stroke Business at MAN Energy Solutions, said: “The successful passing of this significant milestone is testament to the ME-LGI’s strong concept, and indeed the strength of our dual-fuel portfolio as a whole. With well over 250 sales within MAN Energy Solutions’ entire portfolio of low-speed, dual-fuel engines – all running on clean fuels such as methanol, LPG or LNG – this new achievement stands testament to our leadership within a critical market segment.”
René Sejer Laursen, Sales & Promotion Manager, MAN Energy Solutions, added: “When introducing methanol as a 2-stroke marine fuel, we encountered the usual teething problems, including addressing the liner lubrication because of methanol’s potentially corrosive behaviour.
“However, the service experience gathered after 50,000 hours of cumulative operation has ironed all such problems out and the ME-LGI engines are now running smoothly with no maintenance issues. In fact, they are even showing an improvement in fuel efficiency,” he claimed.