Hamburg-based Wessels Reederei contracted German Dry Docks for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) conversion of its container vessel, Wes Amelie.
The conversion of the vessel to LNG propulsion is planned for May 2017, the company said in a statement.
Wessels selected GDD through a tender procedure among three other shipyards, and the two companies have already begun cooperation with the suppliers and constructors at an early stage.
This pilot project is the first of this type on a container ship, Wessels said in its statement, adding that together with MWB Power, it will support MAN Diesel & Turbo during the conversion of the main engine.
GDD will take over shipbuilding areas, such as pipe fitting and installation of a nearly 500-cbm LNG tank, including the required steel section in the foreship of the Wes Amelie.
The shipyard will also install the gas equipment and the gas control unit supplied by TGE Marine Gas Engineering. Bureau Veritas as a classification society will supervise the work.
Other partners in the project are the design office SMB Naval Architects & Consultants while the project is sponsored by the Federal ministry of transport and digital infrastructure.
Wessels Reederei noted also that it could make similar follow-up projects.