Work

Onboard Comparison of HFO and LNG Emissions in a High-Pressure Dual-Fuel Marine Engine at 50% MCR: Implications for Sustainable Shipping

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Maritime transport is a major component of global supply chains, but reducing its atmospheric emissions remains essential to improving the environmental sustainability of shipping. This study analyzes onboard emission data reported for the MV Ilshin Green Iris under real-world operating conditions to assess how fuel selection affects the direct-emission performance of a dual-fuel marine propulsion system. The vessel is equipped with a MAN B&W 6G50ME-C9.5-GI engine employing high-pressure dual-fuel (HPDF) technology. A quantitative comparison between heavy fuel oil (HFO) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) was performed at 50% of the maximum continuous rating (MCR). At 50% MCR, LNG reduced CO2 emissions by 27.0%, NOx emissions by 20.7%, and CO emissions by 18.2% relative to HFO, while PM showed an indicative reduction of approximately 69%; its precise magnitude remains uncertain because a complete PM uncertainty budget was unavailable. Over the 900 s measurement period, the estimated reduction in CO2 mass was 154 kg. During LNG operation, the specific CH4 emission at 50% MCR was approximately 0.6 g/kWh. Using a 100-year global warming potential of 29.8 for fossil CH4, this corresponds to approximately 17.9 g CO2-eq/kWh, equivalent to about 10.5% of the direct CO2 reduction between HFO and LNG at this operating point. The results are representative of the analyzed stabilized operating point rather than of the vessel’s complete operational profile. The main contribution of this study is a structured matched-load analysis of HFO and LNG emissions from the same HPDF marine engine. The analysis combines measurement-derived specific emissions with energy-based mass estimates, methane-related limitations, data-quality considerations, and regulatory and sustainability implications. Because both fuels were evaluated in the same engine at the same 50% MCR operating point, the study provides a consistent basis for assessing fuel-related differences within the limits of the available dataset.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su18178646

Authors: Ewelina Orysiak, Piotr Rozner, Kamila Staszczak

Institution: Maritime University of Szczecin

Language: English

Topic: Maritime Transport Emissions and Efficiency

Subfield: Environmental Engineering

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896