Germany’s MAN Diesel & Turbo has signed a memorandum of understanding with a unit of the South Korean shipbuilding giant Hyundai Heavy Industries for the development of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dual-fuel engines.
Under the deal, MAN Diesel & Turbo and Hyundai Heavy Industries Engine & Machinery Division will develop and produce MAN B&W ME-LGIP dual-fuel engines.
The deal will make the Hyundai unit licensed and able to deliver the LPG-fueled engines, MAN Diesel & Turbo said in a statement.
“MAN Diesel & Turbo has previously experienced strong market interest in using LPG as a fuel aboard LPG carriers, but other shipping segments have also begun investigating this option, a general tendency that is growing,” said Bjarne Foldager, vice president sales and promotion, two-stroke Business at MAN Diesel & Turbo.
“LPG holds great potential as a fuel since it contains no sulphur, is widely available, and easy to bunker. It is therefore becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to other, low-sulphur fuel types,” he added.