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Accelleron from Baden (Switzerland) and the South Korean HD Hyundai Marine Solution (HD HMS) have successfully carried out projects to optimize engine part load (Engine Part Load Optimization, EPLO) on two container ships of the shipping company Hapag-Lloyd. The vessels „Basle Express“ and „Essen Express“ (photo), each with a capacity of 14,000 TEU, received modifications to their main engines and turbocharger components to reduce fuel consumption at lower engine loads. The sea trials conducted and the subsequent operational data show savings of over 10 g/kWh, corresponding to a reduction in overall consumption of 5% in certain load ranges.
Efficiency Increase Through Tailored Solutions
The tailored EPLO solution from Accelleron and HMS ensures that ships operating at lower engine speeds, for example, to meet energy efficiency requirements and reduce carbon costs, operate as efficiently as possible. The two ships from Hapag-Lloyd were recently retrofitted with improvements to the hull and propeller to achieve the required speed with significantly less energy. Through EPLO optimization and turbocharger adjustments, the ships can continue to provide the necessary propulsion power while achieving additional fuel savings.
The optimization of the ships was carried out in an efficient project that was completed within just four weeks after the order was placed, following a technical assessment. Due to the positive results, Hapag-Lloyd plans to extend the implementation to the remaining eight ships of the Dortmund Express class.
Measurable Benefits and Regulatory Compliance
Thomas Häni, Senior Engine Expert at Accelleron, emphasized: “This remarkable improvement in engine performance, measured under real operating conditions, confirms the technical robustness of the EPLO optimizations for ships operating in part load mode. The collaboration with Hapag-Lloyd and HMS has established a scalable retrofit approach that supports both operational efficiency and regulatory compliance in container shipping.”
San Min, SVP for Green & Digital Sales at HD HMS, added: “This EPLO solution represents a significant advancement that achieves both a lasting improvement in engine performance and immediate compliance with IMO regulations. So far, HMS and Accelleron have jointly secured EPLO contracts for more than 100 ships with a variety of shipping companies worldwide. In particular, the recently retrofitted ships of Hapag-Lloyd have demonstrated that we were able to achieve a rapid return on investment (ROI) through the swift implementation of the project, which was a key factor in high customer satisfaction.”
