Chevron knocks on Wärtsilä’s door for LNG fleet engine conversion in pursuit of methane slip cuts

Finnish technology group Wärtsilä and Chevron Shipping Company, a subsidiary of energy company Chevron, are teaming up on converting one engine on six of Chevron Transport Corporation’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers in a bid to reduce their methane emissions. 

In line with Chevron’s decarbonization agenda, converting dual-fuel (DF) engines to spark gas (SG) ones is expected to slash greenhouse gas emissions by lowering methane slip. Described as a “marine industry first,” the deal represents the culmination of the two firm’s partnership that started two years ago. Wärtsilä was hired to work on the first two vessels in Q3 2024.

“Chevron Shipping aims to reduce methane emissions intensity of our LNG fleet in support of a lower carbon future,” noted Barbara Pickering, President of Chevron Shipping. “We are pleased to collaborate with Wärtsilä in this industry first. This demonstrates steps we are taking to reduce the carbon intensity of marine transportation.”

When LNG is burned as a fuel, small amounts of methane can escape into the atmosphere, which is referred to as methane slip. LNG tankers are notorious for their carbon intensity, with the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) claiming they were responsible for 82% of the shipping industry’s methane emissions in 2021.

“This innovative project represents a notable step forward on the road to advancing lower carbon fleets. Wärtsilä has an extensive track-record in reducing methane slip from LNG-fuelled engines, not only as newbuild solutions, but also through retrofitting existing installations,” said Roger Holm, President of Wärtsilä Marine & Executive Vice President at Wärtsilä Corporation.

Wärtsilä’s project of converting its 50DF engines to SG is designed to alter the engines so that spark ignition can be used for initiating combustion instead of diesel pilot fuel. This enables a more optimized combustion process, which the Finnish player claims reduces the methane slip and improves efficiency.

According to Wärtsilä, this new technology complements its portfolio of solutions aimed at reducing methane emissions from vessels. A few days ago, the Finnish firm signed an agreement with Royal Caribbean Group to optimize the performance, reliability, and availability of the engines on 37 cruise ships.

A 16-year contract extension was also secured for ten LNG carriers covered by an earlier lifecycle agreement between the Finnish player and Seapeak Maritime. Under the contract, Wärtsilä is set to improve the LNG fleet’s performance and optimize its maintenance concept.