Wenchong Shipyard in China, a subsidiary of the CSSC Group, has placed an order for four shipsets of 3 × MAN 8L21/31 MK2 GenSets to power a new series of Construction and Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (C- CSOVs). These highly specialised 96-meter vessels will be operated by Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt, a German leader in offshore service shipping.
The order supports the construction of 4 × 96m C- CSOVs designed to provide critical support during the commissioning and operational phases of offshore wind farms. Deutsche Offshore has expanded the traditional CSOV concept by enhancing vessel flexibility and utility, extending applicability into construction and cable-grid sectors.
Naval Architects Salt Ship Design AS of Norway developed the vessels’ basic design, incorporating innovative features to improve operability across multiple phases of offshore energy projects. MAN Energy Solutions licensee, CMP, will build the engines in China with delivery scheduled from Q1, 2027; the order includes an option for further vessels.
The engines will be delivered as part-load optimised for increased fuel efficiency. They will also form part of an innovative diesel-electric concept that complies with Dynamic Positioning stage 2 (DP2), as set out by the DNV classification society.
Johannes Wolters, Managing Director of Deutsche Offshore, summarised: “MAN Energy Solutions’ L21/31 is a cornerstone in our endeavour to develop a vessel with a minimal environmental footprint. The engines offer us benchmark performance in the here and now, while granting us seamless readiness for our decarbonisation strategy.”
Colin Peesel – Head of Sales & Promotion, MAN Energy Solutions, Germany – said: “These 12 engines represent a very significant contract, amounting to over 20MW of power. The L21/31’s many advantages include its class-high fuel efficiency, and low noise-and-vibration levels. Crucially, it is future-proofed regarding operating fuel. Besides MGO, it is capable of running on biofuels such as HVO and FAME, and it is additionally delivered methanol-ready.”
The vessel design that allows for the future retrofitting of the MAN L21/31 GenSets to methanol operation caters for this to a much higher degree than class notation actually requires. Having introduced substantial methanol infrastructure into the vessel already today will make a future conversion to carbon-neutrality smooth and efficient.
MAN Energy Solutions reports a growing trend within the offshore-vessel segment for construction to take place in China. The company already has a sizable presence in China supporting a broad network of licensee engine builders and a growing portfolio of new engine models. Likewise, its after-sales division – MAN PrimeServ – has a strong, global presence, regardless of where the Deutsche Offshore CSOVs eventually operate.
Hakon Juel Hansen – Manager Engine Promotion & Business Development – MAN Energy Solutions, said: “We are experiencing increased demand for efficient, competitive engine designs for the Offshore Wind segment, which our portfolio of small-bore propulsion engines is fulfilling, backed up by our MAN PrimeServ after-sales network. With these technically sophisticated offshore vessels, Deutsche Offshore is showcasing the adaptability of our engine portfolio.”
