World’s first ultra-large ship LNG conversion gets underway for Hapag-Lloyd AS

China’s Huarun Dadong yard has started retrofitting Hapag-Lloyd AG’s ultra-large containership Sajir to use LNG as fuel, in what is believed to be the world’s first such conversion.

The 15,000 TEU vessel arrived at the Shanghai yard on August 31 for the retrofit works including the installation of a 6,500-cbm GTT LNG fuel tank. The project has been affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as Hapag-Lloyd previously planned to start the works in May.

The German container shipping line tapped CSSC’s Hudong-Zhongua for the conversion project early last year. The state-owned yard is a shareholder in Huarun Dadong.

The world’s first large containership conversion to LNG power is believed to cost around $30 million.

Besides new tanks, the ship’s fuel system and its existing heavy fuel oil-burning MAN engine will switch to dual-fuel power. This includes LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil as a backup.

Hapag-Lloyd inherited the LNG-ready Sajir after its takeover of UASC back in 2017. Its 16 sister ships are also LNG-ready and fit for retrofitting.

Huarun Dadong said it expects to complete the retrofit works on Sajir by the end of 2020.

For more information visit www.hapag-lloyd.com

7th September 2020