MAN Energy’s 175D Gensets to Power Offshore Support Vessel: Sea Dragon

MAN Energy Solutions will deliver six 12V175D high-speed, variable-speed generator sets to the CRIST S.A. Shipyard in Gdynia, Poland, which is building an offshore support vessel (OSV) for the DOF Group. The ‘Sea Dragon’ OSV was designed by MMC Ship Design & Marine Consulting, and contains the following features/capabilities:

• Ice-class construction with strengthened hull
• 110-meters-long
• 164-person capacity
• Class 3 dynamic positioning to maintain operation during major failures

“This engine set-up will enable the Sea Dragon to perform a variety of tasks over a wide load range where characteristics such as seakeeping, responsiveness, and adaptability will be key,” said Lex Nijsen, Head of Marine Europe and Americas, MAN Energy Solutions. “Not only is this an excellent reference for the MAN 175D engine, it also marks the beginning of what we trust will be a long operational presence in North America.”

Rendering of the Sea Dragon OSV; image credit: MAN Energy Solutions

The vessel will support operations offshore Newfoundland, Canada, including gas crew changes, drilling support, field-safety standby, emergency towing, and ice management. The Sea Dragon is slated for delivery by Q1 2027.

MAN 175D Engine

The MAN 175D engine is available in 12-, 16- and 20-cylinder variants, with an output ranging from 1,500 - 4,400 kW. This variant is optimized for propelling ferries, offshore support ships, tugs, and other working vessels, while additional engine variants serve superyachts, planing yachts, and naval marine applications. The 175D is also climate-friendly:

• Designed for low fuel consumption
• Complies with exhaust-gas-emissions standards
• Capable of using biofuels such as FAME, HVO, and methanol

“The MAN 175D is a versatile unit that reaches most competitive fuel consumption in variable-speed mode,” said Florian Keiler, Head of High-Speed, MAN Energy Solutions. “Its environmental footprint and operating costs are lowest in class due to its high fuel-efficiency, low lube-oil consumption, and long service-intervals. Combined with MAN Energy Solutions’ MAN PrimeServ, we are confident the 175D represents a worthy overall package for customers and we thank DOF for placing its trust in us.”

More MAN Energy News

In February, MAN Energy Solutions’ 7L21/31 dual-fuel methanol (DF-M) genset passed a type approval test (TAT) at CSSC Marine Power’s production facility in Zhenjiang, China. Following the successful TAT at CMP’s facility, the methanol-fueled genset received approval from major classification societies present during testing.

The new methanol engine design is based on the MAN 21/31 Mk II type, which is part-load optimized with a fuel-oil consumption in the 1–2 MW range and burns heavy fuel oil/distillate and other biofuels in alignment with the ISO 8217:2024 specification. The L21/31 engine has accumulated approximately 3,000 sales over its lifetime. According to MAN Energy Solutions, the low-cost, port fuel-injection methanol concept makes the new 21/31DF-M medium-speed, small-bore engine suitable for genset and diesel-electric propulsion applications. In a connection to underway projects, the genset is also a matching system for its methanol-fueled, MAN B&W ME-LGIM two-stroke engine.

And in January, MAN launched the Multi Fluid Monitor. The continuous engine-oil monitoring tool applies to two-stroke engines across different generations, configurations, and fuels in the merchant marine industry. First unveiled in 2020, the new tool allows managers to monitor the health of engines across their entire fleet.