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Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MES) has said that it plans to carry out a demonstration of its electronically-controlled gas injection diesel engine, the ME-GI, during the spring of 2013.

The demonstration, which will be carried out in cooperation with Mitsui OSK Lines, Ltd. (MOL), will be executed by converting an electronically-controlled diesel engine into the ME-GI engine.

MES completed the development of a generating plant with a slow-speed gas injection diesel engine (GIDE) at its Chiba facility in 1994. The company says that it then began its power generation business using slow-speed gas burning engines with an eye towards developing the application of such engines for the shipping industry in the future. Since then, the company has been broadening its expertise in the field of gas burning diesel engines.

The ME-GI engine is a combination of gas injection technology and electronic control technology. With liquefied natural gas (LNG) being talked about as a viable ship fuel for the future in recent years, MES says this has also resulted in an increase in interest in using the ME-GI as a marine propulsion engine.

In July last year, the company adopted the ME-GI as the engine for its newly developed LNG carrier "Double Eco MAX", with the objective of achieving a 30 percent reduction in fuel costs and CO2 emissions.

MES says the next demonstration will be carried out to test its integrated control system and gas supply system as the company looks towards developing its sales and production capabilities for the ME-GI and the installation of the engine for its customers.

Image: MOL Encore