Hapag-Lloyd gears up for methanol retrofits

German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd will move ahead with plans to retrofit five conventionally-fuelled container ships to run on methanol, after confirming the success of recent engine tests.

PHOTO: Hapag-Lloyd operated container ship, Seaspan Yangtze. Seaspan Corporation

“The test proved that the engine – originally built to run on traditional fuel oil – could switch over to methanol without a hitch,” the company said.

The vessels will be equipped with methanol dual-fuel engines supplied by German manufacturer MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES), enabling them to operate on both methanol as well as conventional fuels.

Hapag-Lloyd first announced the retrofit plans in April 2024. The five vessels - Seaspan Amazon, Seaspan Ganges, Seaspan Thames, Seaspan Yangtze and Seaspan Zambezi – are chartered from Hong Kong-based Seaspan Corporation. They will remain on long-term charter following the engine upgrades.

“The retrofit is expected to take approximately 80-90 days per vessel starting in the first quarter of 2026,” the company said last year.

Hapag further aims to decarbonise its entire fleet by 2045, according to its chief operating officer, Maximilian Rothkopf.

By Konica Bhatt

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online