S90 Methanol Engine Retrofit Confirmed
Successful COSCO SHIPPING LINES sea-trial marks major decarbonisation milestone for S90-class vessels; opens new pathway for large-bore retrofits
Everllence has announced the world’s first conversion of an Everllence B&W S90 two-stroke engine to dual-fuel methanol running following the successful sea-trials of COSCO SHIPPING LINES’ 20,000+ TEU container vessel, ‘COSCO SHIPPING LIBRA’. The vessel’s 11S90ME-C engine was retrofitted to an 11S90ME-LGIM (-Liquid Gas Injection Methanol) unit.
Everllence PrimeServ – Everllence’s after-sales division – partnered with COSCO SHIPPING HEAVY INDUSTRY from concept to execution in delivering the world’s first S90 methanol engine retrofit, a full-scope project covering engineering, project management, installation, commissioning and sea-trials. As part of the process, Everllence invested in a dedicated 4S90 testbed engine in Japan that was commissioned in early 2025. The testbed validated the S90 engine’s methanol performance under real operating conditions, accelerating its readiness for this ‘first-ever’ large-bore milestone.
Michael Petersen – Senior Vice President and Head of Everllence PrimeServ, Denmark – said: “We’re proud to support COSCO SHIPPING LINES and COSCO SHIPPING HEAVY INDUSTRY — and the maritime industry as a whole — in taking this significant step toward decarbonising shipping. This milestone highlights COSCO SHIPPING LINES’ role as a first mover and presents a practical path for reducing emissions from Everllence S90 engine vessels. It also showcases Everllence’s capability to deliver large-scale retrofit projects. With 26 dual-fuel conversions already completed and an even larger pipeline across various alternative fuels, shipowners can trust Everllence to deliver retrofit solutions at scale."
Unlocking opportunity
Looking beyond the COSCO SHIPPING LIBRA retrofit that proves the viability of methanol as a marine fuel, Everllence believes that the potential for further large-bore retrofits is substantial with over 300 vessels worldwide currently equipped with S90-class engines and therefore potential candidates for similar retrofits.
Petersen added: “While the journey toward full decarbonisation will require collaboration across the industry, this achievement demonstrates that large-scale conversions are both technically proven and commercially viable. This opens a practical pathway towards accelerating the maritime energy transition together with our customers.”
About COSCO SHIPPING LINES
COSCO SHIPPING Container Lines Co., Ltd is a global container-shipping company, operating a large and modern fleet. The company focuses on sustainable shipping practices, including the adoption of alternative fuels, energy-efficient technologies, and green supply-chain solutions. Projects like the COSCO SHIPPING LIBRA conversion demonstrate the company’s commitment to decarbonisation, advancing pathways toward a net-zero future.
About COSCO SHIPPING HEAVY INDUSTRY (CHI)
CHI has nine modern subsidiary shipyards. The company has several state-of-the-art technical centres, research institutes and more than 2,500 professional designers along with 10,000 highly qualified technicians. CHI is developing new, intelligent modes of construction and committed to optimising and upgrading its products towards a green, intelligent and high-end development.
