BW LPG to Retrofit 4 Ships to LPG-Propelled Dual-Fuel Engines

Singapore-based owner and operator of LPG vessels BW LPG has signed contracts for the delivery and retrofitting of four LPG-propelled dual-fuel engines in its fleet.

“BW LPG has been preparing for IMO 2020 for years and today, I am pleased to announce that we have signed contracts for the delivery and retrofitting of four LPG-propelled dual-fuel engines,” Martin Ackermann, BW LPG CEO said, adding that the company aims to be a pioneer in next-generation, high-tech green ships with dual-fuel propulsion.

The initiative, which is said to be the world’s first of its kind, also include future options.

BW LPG expects the first retrofitting to take place in conjunction with scheduled drydockings starting 2020.

With LPG propulsion, BW LPG will reduce its sulphur oxide emissions by up to 97 percent, allowing for full compliance with all current and future sulphur emissions requirements, the company said.

This means the retrofitted ships, when operating on LPG, will go beyond IMO’s global 0.5% sulphur emissions cap to also be in full compliance with Emission Control Areas (ECA) and Sulphur Emission Control Areas’ (SECA) 0.1% sulphur cap.

In addition, with LPG fuel, BW LPG said it will reduce emissions of particulate matters by ~90 percent, greenhouse gases by ~25 percent, and nitrogen oxides by ~20 percent.

LPG as a marine fuel offers efficiency gains on many fronts. Output efficiencies will improve by ~11 percent with LPG when compared with compliant fuels, bringing improvements in total voyage fuel economics. Other efficiencies gained with LPG include easy storage, faster refueling and wide availability of bunkering ships and facilities.