MITSUI E&S Launches Testing of World’s First Commercial Dual-Fuel Ammonia Engine

MITSUI E&S has initiated the testing phase for the world’s first commercial, two-stroke, dual-fuel ammonia engine. The MAN B&W 7S60ME-LGIA Mk 10.5 prototype engine has started its ammonia fuel test-run at MITSUI E&S’s Tamano Factory in Japan. This 60-bore engine will be installed on a 200,000-dwt bulk carrier at Imabari Shipbuilding for a joint venture between “K” LINE, NS United, and ITOCHU Corp. It is equipped with MAN Energy Solutions’ HPSCR system for IMO Tier III compliance.

Bjarne Foldager, Head of Two-Stroke Business at MAN Energy Solutions, emphasized the significance of using ammonia for carbon-neutral combustion, especially in the maritime industry where reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial. MAN Energy Solutions has collaborated closely with MITSUI E&S on this groundbreaking project and has received interest from external parties. The company has already secured several ammonia engine orders in Asia and believes that ammonia will become one of the major alternative fuels alongside methanol and methane.

The test phase also involves verifying the safety and performance of MITSUI E&S’s independently-developed ammonia fuel-supply system and other peripheral systems. Ole Pyndt Hansen, Head of Two-Stroke R&D at MAN Energy Solutions, highlighted the project’s progress towards commercialization, building on comprehensive single-cylinder ammonia-fuel tests. Operational experience at sea will be essential for fine-tuning the engine’s performance and reliability, with a market introduction of ME-LGIA ammonia engines expected by the end of 2026, subject to shipbuilding schedules.

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