N-KOM converts first vessel to ME-GI operation for Nakilat

Built in 2010, 266,000 cu m Rasheeda LNG carrier’s two MAN B&W S70ME-C engines were retrofitted with a gas-burning M-Type Electronically Controlled – Gas Injection (ME-GI) system, enabling them to use LNG.

Undertaken at Nakilat-Keppel Offshore & Marine (N-KOM)’s Erhama bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard in Qatar, the installation is the first of its kind, and is being called a “milestone” by MAN B&W.

“The success of the ME-GI project is the culmination of years of cooperation with Qatargas, RasGas and MAN Diesel & Turbo as turnkey project manager,” said Nakilat md Abdullah Al-Sulaiti. “In late 2013, Nakilat worked with our charterers to implement a pilot conversion on Q-Max Rasheeda, the first retrofit ME-GI project ever to be implemented in the marine industry. This is a milestone moment for all involved parties.”

Christian Ludwig, head of retrofit and upgrades at MAN PrimeServ, said: “This is a fantastic milestone in our company’s history. It is a lighthouse project, and there has been a remarkable partnership and cooperation through this historic conversion. Our ME-GI order book now stands at 140 orders – for different vessel sizes and applications, which we see as a compelling case for our technology to be designated the industry standard.”