Yesterday, many members of the maritime fraternity gathered in Frederikshavn, Denmark, to witness the presentation of MAN B&W Diesel’s ME engine. "This is the first fully commercial step on the way to realise a long-term vision in our company, the intelligent engine", said Executive Vice President Peter Sunn Pedersen.

Some 300 shipowners, shipyard representatives and other business associates from 29 countries attended yesterday’s presentation of MAN B&W Diesel’s new ME engine in Frederikshavn, Denmark.

At the presentation Peter Sunn Pedersen Executive Vice President, in charge of the two-stroke business unit within the MBD Group, said:

"This event marks the greatest technical step forward in the technology of large marine diesel engines since our company introduced turbocharging of such large two-stroke engines in 1952".

"What you are going to see during the day is the first fully commercial step on the way to realise a long-term vision in our company, the intelligent engine. The IE monitors itself – to ensure the highest possible reliability and lowest possible running costs, minimising repair and maintenance. It minimises emissions as well as fuel and lube oil consumption. It is highly flexible in terms of operating modes, and it can be updated during its whole 25-30 year lifetime". Peter Sunn Pedersen continued.

MAN B&W Diesel has worked on the vision, and the necessary software and hardware for some 12 years now and has invested some 200 man-years in this period of time. "I would also like to convey my very heartfelt thanks to Norwegian ship owner Odfjell, who gave us the possibility to carry out a long-term test of the system on one of their ships, the 37,500 tdw chemical carrier Bow Cecil. This test started nearly 2½ years ago and the 10,000 hour mark has been passed – I gather that the results were not so bad, because Odfjell is the owner who will have today’s showpiece, the 7S50ME-C engine, in their next ship from Kleven Florø Yard – whom I would also like to thank for their positive and cooperative attitude", said Peter Sunn Pedersen.

"Without visionary ship owners and yards, development is doomed to be slow, and you deserve much praise for your assistance to us. You can be proud that you pioneered the use of the engine of the future", added Peter Sunn Pedersen. MAN B&W Diesel’s ME engines are available with 50 to 108 cm cylinder diameters, and preliminary orders for ME engines with 50, 60, 70 and 98 cm cylinder diameters have already been placed.