On June 23rd, PaxOcean engineering Zhoushan successfully delivered the methanol dual-fuel retrofited and upgraded feeder containership “ECO UMANDE” to Singapore ship owner X-Press Feeders for operation. It is also the first containership in the world to complete the conversion of methanol dual fuel.
It is reported that “ECO UMANDE” was built for X-Press Feeders by New Dayang Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of SUMEC Marine, and after delivery, the owner decided to transform the “methanol-ready” into methanol dual fuel. The conversion project was subcontracted by SUMEC to PaxOcean engineering Zhoushan.
With a length of 148 meters, a beam of 27.2 meters and a speed of 14.5 knots, the Liberian-flagged ECO UMANDE has a capacity of 1,170 TEUs and sails mainly on the European feeder routes. The containership has been retrofitted with the 5S50ME methanol dual-fuel engine developed by MAN Energy Solutions, which meets EEDI Stage III and Tier III requirements.
The retrofit project includes installation of 7 systems including methanol fuel system, nitrogen system, methanol plant bilge water system, methanol tank ventilation and sweeping system, LFSS instrument air system, foam system, etc.
Meanwhile, there are 8 systems need to be modified, which are the original CO2 system, the air measurement system, the cabin water supply system, the high and low temperature fresh water cooling system, the compressed air system, the control air system, the fire fighting water system, and the ventilation system.
The successful retrofitting of this methanol dual-fuel ship not only means that Zhoushan ship repair industry has walked in the forefront of the world in terms of methanol-fueled main engine retrofit, but also marks that Zhoushan’s green ship repair has opened up a brand-new track.
PaxOcean engineering Zhoushan said it expects to carry out a second methanol-fueled main engine conversion program at the shipyard in mid-July this year.