Hapag-Lloyd’s 1st containership retrofit gets LNG fuel tank

China’s Huarun Dadong yard is moving forward with conversion works on Hapag-Lloyd’s ultra-large containership Sajir and it completed lifting a 6,500-cbm LNG fuel tank onboard the vessel.

Following three days of continuous works, Huarun Dadong placed the 1,300-tonne GTT LNG tank onboard the ship using a giant floating crane on September 26.

To remind, the 15,000 TEU vessel arrived at the Shanghai yard on August 31 for the works including the tank installation.

Hapag-Lloyd claims the conversion is the first ever retrofit of a large containership to LNG fuel.

Hapag-Lloyd's 1st containership retrofit gets LNG fuel tank
Image: Huarun Dadong Dockyard

German container shipping line tapped CSSC’s Hudong-Zhongua, a shareholder in Huarun Dadong, for the conversion project early last year.

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic affected the project as Hapag-Lloyd previously planned to start the works in May.

The world’s first large contairneship conversion to LNG power has a price tag of about $35 million.

This pilot project will help Hapag-Lloyd to decide on future LNG conversions but also paves the way for other boxship owners looking to slash emissions and comply with more stringent IMO rules.

Besides new tanks, the ship’s fuel system and its existing heavy fuel oil-burning MAN engine will switch to dual-fuel power. This includes LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil as a backup.

Hapag-Lloyd inherited the LNG-ready Sajir after its takeover of UASC back in 2017. Its 16 sister ships are also LNG-ready and fit for retrofitting.

Huarun Dadong expects to complete the retrofit works on Sajir by year-end.

Sajir’s initial test voyages are set for early 2021 before its redeployment in the Asia-North Europe trade lane.

Most Popular

Atlantic LNG shipping rates, European prices down

Atlantic LNG freight shipping rates and European prices decreased this week compared to the week before.

Glenfarne becomes majority owner of Alaska LNG

US energy firm Glenfarne has signed definitive agreements with state-owned Alaska Gasline Development Corporation to become the majority owner of the giant Alaska LNG export project.

Petronas to supply LNG to PetroVietnam Gas

Malaysian energy giant Petronas will supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to PetroVietnam Gas, a unit of state-owned PetroVietnam, next month. The two firms will also look into the possibility of signing long-term LNG contracts.

More News Like This

QatarEnergy LNG carrier completes trials in China

A 174,000-cbm liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier built as part of the massive QatarEnergy shipbuilding program has completed its trials in China, according to Hudong-Zhonghua.

CMA CGM’s LNG-powered giant nears delivery in China

CMA CGM's first in a new series of 23,000-teu LNG dual-fuel containerships has completed its trials, according to Chinese shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua.

Hudong-Zhonghua kicks off work on TotalEnergies LNG bunkering vessel

China’s Hudong-Zhonghua has officially started building one 18,600-cbm LNG bunkering vessel for French energy giant TotalEnergies.

Hapag-Lloyd to add more LNG-powered containerships to its fleet

Germany's Hapag-Lloyd is expected to add more LNG dual-fuel container vessels to its fleet with a new order at South Korea's Hanwha Ocean, according to shipbuilding sources and brokers.