MAN to deliver first ammonia dual-fuel engines in early 2026
MAN Energy Solutions confirms its prototype liquid gas injection ammonia engine has run at 100% engine load for the first time
Two-stroke engine designer appears to be on track to deliver pilot ammonia-fuel engine for Eastern Pacific Shipping VLAC in the first quarter of next year
MAN Energy Solutions’ ammonia dual-fuel engine project reached a significant milestone following confirmation by the two-stroke engine designer that its prototype full-scale engine has run at 100% load for the first time.
The “ME-LGIA” liquid gas injection ammonia engine has been under development since 2020. Full-scale testing of the engine commenced in November 2024 at MAN’s research centre in Copenhagen.
“We have now operated the engine on ammonia from 25%–100% load, marking yet another important step forward in the maritime energy transition,” said Ole Pyndt Hansen, two-stroke research and development head at MAN Energy Solutions.
The company tested a single cylinder engine operating on ammonia from November 2023 for 12 months. It reports positive emission and performance characteristics from earlier single-cylinder tests which have now been validated in full-scale engine operation.
MAN now appears to be on schedule to deliver its first pilot ammonia dual fuel engine in the first quarter of 2026.
The initial engine will be delivered to South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries for fitting to a very large ammonia carrier. The 93,000 cu m vessel is one of two ships ordered by Singapore’s Eastern Pacific Shipping in 2023.
Rival two-stroke engine designer WinGD confirmed earlier this month that it is set to deliver its first ammonia dual-fuel engines to customers in the last quarter of 2025.
WinGD’s first ammonia dual-fuel engine is due to be supplied to South Korea’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard for the lead ship of four liquefied petroleum gas carriers ordered by Belgium’s Exmar.