- Hundreds of ships will face fuel conversion in the coming years. With its proven and patented multigas technology, Svanehøj is chosen as the pump supplier for an LNG/ammonia retrofit.
According to the company’s website news release on April 12, 2023, later this year, a 13,000 TEU containership with a 2-stroke engine will be converted from MGO/HFO to LNG and ammonia. Svanehøj is chosen as the pump supplier for the retrofit project and will deliver two DW fuel pumps configured for operation on both LNG and ammonia.
The vessel will be converted by a newly developed technology based on liquid injection of LNG, ammonia, or methanol. The new technology reduces costs significantly compared to solutions that evaporate the gas before injection. It will make fuel conversion a more attractive business case for shipowners looking to improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and ensure regulatory compliance in the future.
“Many shipowners will face strategic decisions regarding their existing diesel-powered ships in the coming years. With new technology, fuel conversion will be attractive for several hundred vessels planning for five- or ten-year docking. We see great potential in this segment, as the Svanehøj deepwell pump is the only solution capable of pumping both LNG and ammonia”, says Frank Norman Jensen, Senior Sales Manager, Svanehøj.
Svanehøj estimates the market potential to be 600-1,200 diesel-powered ships built in 2013 or later. Although new technology significantly reduces conversion costs, it will still be a significant investment for the shipowner to switch from diesel to LNG and ammonia/methanol. Whether a fuel conversion is an attractive business case will depend on engine power and the charter rates for the vessel in question.
Extensive ammonia pumping experience
As a leading marine fuel and cargo pump supplier, Svanehøj has extensive experience handling ammonia. The reference list includes over 1,500 deep well pumps specified for ammonia over the past decade.
Most recently, Svanehøj was chosen as the supplier of fuel pump systems for eight Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs), designed with fuel flexibility in mind as they are prepared to operate on both LNG, ammonia, and methanol. The vessels will be among the largest and most environmentally friendly car carriers ever built and the first in the PCTC segment to operate on zero-carbon ammonia.
Want to know more?
The Svanehøj DW fuel pump is designed to support the shipping industry in a long and very complex transition from fossil fuels to clean fuels based on renewable energy sources. The DW fuel pump enables ships to comply with both current and future requirements, as it is compatible with all liquid gas fuels, including ammonia, methanol, LNG and LPG.
By placing all sensitive components, such as the electric motor, seals, and bearing systems, outside the tank, Svanehøj has reduced maintenance costs considerably and removed one of the primary contributors to temperature rise and boil-off gas. The pump is designed for a 25,000-hour / 5-year service interval. But if needed, the motor, bearing, and pump can be easily accessed at any time between regular service dockings – regardless of tank content and the liquid level inside the tank.
More info at svanehoj.com/solutions/fuel-gas-solutions/
