MAN Receives 8 Orders from Korean Shipyards for Container Ships

MAN Energy Solutions received eight ME-GI engine orders from two South Korean shipyards, both of which are building four ultra-large container ship (ULCS) vessels for an unknown Asian owner. These orders were switched from another manufacturer’s single-fuel conventional engines to MAN’s dual-fuel design which, according to the company, is a popular choice in 2025’s maritime industry.

“This is a very welcome order that confirms the ME-GI’s strong start to the year,” said Bjarne Foldager, Head of Two-Stroke Business, MAN Energy Solutions. “Moreover, we consider it as a strategic win where we had to overcome competition before swinging proceedings back in our favor. Looking at the current status of the container segment – and taking its regulatory horizon into consideration – the ME-GI has a superior emission profile. This includes minimal methane slip, compared to conventional engines, which helps it stand out as a future-proof solution.”

Each shipyard ordered four B&W 8G95ME-GI Mk10.5 main engines for the ULCS vessels and, prior to installation, an unnamed Korean MAN Energy licensee will build the engines. These ME-GI engines are primarily used for container vessels, gas and liquid tanker vessels, and car and truck carriers, with the following sales breakdown since 2014:

• Over 900 total
• Over 400 sold to the container industry
• 225+ for gas and liquid tankers
• 175+ for vehicle transports

ME-GI engine; image credit: MAN Energy Solutions

“The ME-GI continues to confirm its status as the maritime industry’s default, dual-fuel, methane-fueled engine and is capable of running on LNG, synthetic methane, and bio-methane,” said Christian Ludwig, Head of Two-Stroke Sales and Promotion, MAN Energy Solutions. “Furthermore, the latest Mk10.7 ME-GI generation features increased gas-operating pressures to enhance fuel efficiency. Additionally, the diesel-cycle combustion concept employed by ME-GI engines optimizes fuel consumption in both gas and fuel-oil modes, thereby improving fuel efficiency without the need for complex and unproven designs. This is particularly advantageous in gas mode, where methane’s flammability characteristics make the use of the diesel-combustion cycle a plus.”

MAN’s Maritime Work

Last week, MAN Energy Solutions agreed to deliver two 16-cylinder 175D-MEM engines to the Netherlands’ Royal Niestern Sander Shipyard, which will construct a multi-purpose CO₂ carrier for Wagenborg Operator: the EasyMax 5. Each engine will generate 2,400 kW at 1,800 rpm, powering the vessel for offshore, substrate CO₂ storage. The EasyMax vessel features a 14,000-ton cargo capacity and will be chartered by INEOS Denmark. MAN will deliver the engines in 2025.

The CO₂ will be captured at a Danish biogas plant, then transported to Esbjerg for loading onto the EasyMax 5. From here, the carrier will deliver and store the captured CO₂ at the Greensand site offshore Denmark in the North Sea. MAN Energy’s 175D generator sets will input more power to the vessel’s CO₂ pump and dynamic positioning systems, improving discharge operations during offshore storage.

In February 2025, MAN Energy Solutions’ 7L21/31 dual-fuel methanol 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.