German container shipping company Hapag-Lloyd revealed plans to retrofit its 15,000 TEU boxship ‘Sajir’ to use LNG propulsion, in a pilot project expected to pave the way for converting large ships to LNG. The LNG conversion is expected to save 15-30% in CO2 emissions from the ship’s operation.
As informed, the company signed the contract for the retrofitting at the end of last week with Hudong ZHONGHUA Shipbuilding (Group) Co., LTD. The conversion will be carried out in the Shanghai-based shipyard Huarun Dadong Dockyard Co., Ltd.
In the future, the ship’s engine system will be able to function using either of two types of fuel: LNG or low-sulphur fuel oil (LSFO). Namely, during its time in the shipyard, the ship’s fuel system and its existing HFO-burning engine will be converted into a dual fuel engine. The plan will be to operate the vessel using LNG, but to also be able to use low-sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) as a backup.
By converting the ‘Sajir’, we will be the first shipping company in the world to retrofit a container ship of this size to LNG propulsion. By carrying out this unprecedented pilot, we hope to learn for the future and to pave the way for large ships to be retrofitted to use this alternative fuel,
…says Richard von Berlepsch, Managing Director Fleet Management at Hapag-Lloyd.
Using LNG in the shipping industry could potentially reduce CO2 emissions by 15-30% and sulphur dioxide and particulate matter by more than 90%.
The “Sajir” is one of the 17 vessels in Hapag-Lloyd’s fleet that were originally designed to be LNG-ready. Its 16 sister ships are also technically prepared for retrofitting.
