Alfal Laval bags order to install methanol LFSS

Alfa Laval has won an order to instal its FCM Methanol low flashpoint fuel supply system (LFSS) on four ultra large container vessels (ULCV) under construction at a Chinese shipyard

The new vessel series will have two-stroke WinGD methanol engines and four-stroke Wärtsilä methanol auxiliary engines. The FCM Methanol system will work for both WinGD main engines and Wärtsilä auxiliary engines.

Alfa Laval confirmed that deliveries of the FCM Methanol LFSS will commence in 2024, with first vessels expected to be launched in 2025.

While Alfa Laval did not disclose the shipyard or the owner, one likely candidate for the order is COSCO Shipping Lines, which recently contracted WinGD to supply its 10X92DF-M methanol fuelled engines for four 16,000 TEU vessels under construction at COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Yangzhou).

If the vessels are for COSCO, the project would be characterised by several firsts, marking the first time that a Chinese shipowner has ordered methanol-capable vessels, the first time the shipyard has built such vessels and the first time for WinGD to deliver engines for methanol-fuelled ships.

Alfa Laval will provide a customised methanol fuel supply system, adapting its FCM Methanol design to the requirements of these engines for the first time, marking it a significant milestone for the company as well.

FCM Methanol safely supplies methanol within the flow rate, pressure, temperature, and filtration parameters specified by the engine maker. Alfa Laval claims it is adaptable to any engine and vessel design, and enables turnkey LFSS deliveries for easy installation.

This year, WinGD and Alfa Laval intend to have a methanol engine and fuel supply system design built and tested ahead of WinGD’s planned roll out of a methanol-burning engine in 2024.