DNV okays Bergen Engines’ methanol-ready notation for marine engines

Norway-based medium-speed engine builder Bergen Engines has received approval from classification society DNV for its methanol-ready statement for marine engines.

Bergen Engines said this approval reinforces the company’s commitment to sustainable solutions, aligning with the belief that methanol will be an important fuel option for marine applications.

As explained, methanol, a versatile and sustainable fuel when produced from renewables, offers numerous advantages for Bergen medium-speed engines, such as reducing emissions and contributing to enhanced engine performance.

Data from DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform showed that methanol proved the most popular alternative fuel choice in 2023 with 138 ships ordered (excluding methanol carriers). In February 2024, the classification society reported that 23 more ships were added to the AFI database since the beginning of this year.

“We are proud to announce the approval of our methanol-ready notation by DNV,” Jon Erik Røv, Managing Director of Bergen Engines, commented.

“This achievement highlights our dedication to providing sustainable solutions to address the evolving needs of our customers and the environment. With methanol, we can offer a cleaner alternative to ship owners that aligns with our mission to drive positive change in the industry.”

In addition to methanol, Bergen Engines is looking into other alternative fuels, including hydrogen and ammonia.

The Norwegian company claims to be the first medium-speed engine producer in the world to successfully test a 30% volume blend of hydrogen at 100% load, thus setting the stage for the upcoming 100% hydrogen-fueled engine. Field testing was completed in 2023 in Caseda, Spain, in collaboration with Viscofan. Prior to this, the tests on a B-Series Bergen engine running on a blend of 15% hydrogen and 85% were completed in 2022.

The company aims to develop a 100% hydrogen-fueled engine by the end of 2024.

Simultaneously, Bergen Engines continues its research to assess the feasibility of utilizing ammonia as a primary fuel source to further expand its green solutions portfolio for land and marine-based applications.