MAN Diesel & Turbo is participating in a joint research project called Gas-Pax exploring the use of fuels with low flashpoints (such as natural gas) in passenger ships, ferries and mega-yachts. The project was initiated by a number of well-known German shipyards with the aim of securing a leading position on the market for systems for new types of environmentally friendly ships.

In the long term, alternatives to the hitherto popular propulsion concepts based on heavy fuel oil need to be developed to market maturity. Emissions of sulphur oxides and nitric oxides can be reduced through exhaust gas after-treatment and/or appropriate refining of fuels, but this is linked to high production and follow-up costs for running the ships. Environmental requirements for ships are also increasing continuously. This necessitates rapid development of innovative ships with environmentally friendly propulsion and auxiliary power concepts. When using gaseous fuels, however, particular technical safety aspects need to be observed, especially for passenger transport.

As an associated partner in this research project, MAN Diesel & Turbo is committed to developing a gas-driven machinery. Further sub-projects include the development of gas-driven ships, the evaluation of alternative fuel technology and a safety concept. The use of gas, which in ships takes the form of liquid gas (Liquefied Natural Gas, LNG), requires a significantly higher tank volume than, for instance, heavy fuel oil. This means that the ships’ architecture needs to be taken into consideration. Gas-driven passenger ferries were first used in Norway in 2000. There is currently no comprehensive body of regulations for operating in international waters. The companies involved in Gas-Pax hope that their research findings, particularly regarding the safety aspects for storage and handling of gas on board passenger ships, will be considered in the future regulations of the IMO and classification societies. The project is to be concluded by 2012.