Alfa Laval providing fuel supply system for six methanol-fuelled vessels

Alfa Laval will provide the methanol LFSS for six 1170 TEU container vessels ordered by Eastaway, a member of the X-Press Feeders Group. 

The new vessel series, to be built at Chinese shipyards Ningbo Xinle Shipbuilding Group Co., Ltd and New Dayang Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, will have two-stroke MAN B&W ME-LGIM engines that can run on methanol as well as conventional fuels. The FCM Methanol deliveries will begin in June 2023. 

Peter Nielsen, President, Alfa Laval Marine Separation & Heat Transfer Equipment, says:

"Alfa Laval is proud to be chosen for this significant methanol project. With their ability to sail on green methanol, these vessels will be front-runners in the move to carbon-neutral operations. Methanol is a major advance on the path to decarbonization, and the FCM Methanol can be instrumental for shipowners in making the leap."

Because methanol technology is a new element in shipbuilding, yards adopt different setups to suit their learning curve. Given the complexity and scope in this project, the yards have hired engineering companies to procure and integrate the methanol-related components. The FCM Methanol was selected due to its unique flexibility and Alfa Laval's extensive methanol experience.

With mature technologies and reliable automation, the FCM Methanol safely supplies methanol within the flow rate, pressure, temperature, and filtration parameters specified by the engine maker. Because it can be adapted to any engine and vessel design, it enables turnkey LFSS deliveries for easy installation. Since 2015, the system has been chosen in nearly 20 methanol projects for more than 10 large shipping companies.