MAN bags engines order for 10 Shell-chartered VLCCs

MAN Energy Solutions has been contracted to supply 10 of its dual-fuel ME-GI engines for the Shell-chartered VLCC newbuilds.

The ten 300,000-dwt vessels are distributed among Advantage Tankers, AET and International Seaways. MAN noted in its statement the engines will be built by HSD Engine in South Korea, while the shipbuilding contract went to DSME.

Commenting on the order, Bjarne Foldager, senior vice president and head of Two-Stroke business at MAN Energy Solutions, said, “This is a significant order on several fronts owing to its size and the ME-GI’s début in yet another segment.”

The new order follows a slew of orders announced globally for the engine in recent months.

MAN Energy Solutions stated in January 2021 that its low-speed, dual-fuel references in their entirety then exceeded 360 units, with the ME-GI recording over 1.5 million operating hours on LNG alone.

MAN Energy Solutions believes that it is time for what it terms a ‘Maritime Energy Transition’ to find clean, decarbonised solutions for seaborne trade and transportation.

To remind, the delivery of the first vessel on order at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering is scheduled for 2022. All vessels are set to operate on a 7-year charter with Shell.

DSME noted that the delivery of the fleet with a price tag of $967 million will be completed by the second half of 2023.