Japan Engine Corporation (J-Eng, the joint venture between Mitsubishi and Kobe Diesel) has started development of the UEC60LSH type engine in order to strengthen the line-up of the latest LSH series.
The UEC60LSH is the successor of UEC60LSE type which has been used by many customers over a long period. Based on the result of thorough discussion with customers, the UEC60LSH will be optimised for various types of vessel, including VLGC (Very Large Gas Carrier), Capesize bulk carrier, coal carrier, and car carrier. The UEC60LSH will share the same features, as found in the UEC42LSH and UEC50LSH types, of ultra-low fuel consumption, compact dimensions and a wide rating that covers a wide range of engine speeds.
Simultaneously, the company will proceed with the development of the ammonia-fuelled UEC60LSJA, which will be based on the HFO-fuelled UEC60LSH.
According to J-Eng, ammonia has an established supply chain of manufacturing and distribution as raw material for fertilisers, and the demand for ammonia is expected to increase in the future to secure enough food supplies in accordance to the growth of population, especially in the developing countries. Furthermore, ammonia does not emit CO2 when it combusts and therefore is expected to be used as a co-firing fuel for reducing GHG emissions at existing power plants. In order to meet these demands, the upsizing and the increase of completion volume of ammonia carrier ships are forecasted.
Currently J-Eng is developing UEC50LSJA, an ammonia-fuelled engine having 50cm bore, under the Japanese New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO) Green Innovation Fund project and aims to complete it in 2025. Other plans include the launch a larger size ammonia-fuelled engine, UEC60LSJA, with 60cm bore, to the market after 2026 as a main engine for large ammonia carriers.
