Seaspan and Hapag-Lloyd to Retrofit Up to 60 Ships to Green Methanol

Seaspan Corporation and Hapag-Lloyd have partnered with MAN Energy Solutions to retrofit up to 60 containerships to use green methanol as marine fuel.

MAN Energy Solutions announced it signed an agreement with the two companies to retrofit 15 individual MAN B&W S90-type fuel-oil-powered engines to dual-fuel ME-LGIM engines capable of running on green methanol. The agreement includes an option for 45 more engine retrofits.

Hapag-Lloyd is a major charterer of Seaspan-owned ships.

MAN said each conversion will be able to reduce CO2 emissions by 50,000-70,000 tonnes per year.

The retrofit announcement comes after rival Maersk announced plans to retrofit one of its existing ships, also in partnership with MAN Energy Solutions, to dual-fuel methanol power capable of operating on green methanol. The retrofit, said to be industry first, is scheduled to take place in 2024.

Seaspan is a global containership lessor with a focus on long-term time charters. The company has a newbuild program of 70 vessels, which will bring its owned fleet to a total of 200 vessels and 1.9 million TEU capacity.

Hapag-Lloyd is a leading liner shipping company with a fleet of 250 container ships and a transport capacity of 1.8 million TEU. The company aims to operate in a climate-neutral manner and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2045.

“Seaspan and Hapag-Lloyd, are significant maritime stakeholders with strong fleet-decarbonisation commitments and strategies,” said Thomas Leander, Head of Solutions and Site Manager at MAN PrimeServ Denmark. “This Agreement shows clear intent to drive the industry transition toward zero-carbon shipping.”

Leander added that retrofitting existing engines is a cost-effective way to reduce emissions and increase efficiency, and avoids the unnecessary building of additional tonnage with associated CO2 emissions.

“Crucially, this also avoids the unnecessary building of additional tonnage with associated CO2 emissions, and thereby showcasing that retrofitting the existing maritime fleet is an important and feasible path,” he said.