MAN B&W emerged victorious in a competition with German rival Wartsila on Friday when it announced that the US operator would power the 2,400-teu duo with its M-type electronically controlled gas injection (ME-GI) systems.

In a statement the company noted each ship, which are on order at VT Halter Marine of the US and due for delivery in 2017, will be equipped with a MAN B&W 8S70ME-GI8.2 main engine and three MAN 9L28/32DF auxiliary engines.

The development, which suggests MAN B&W has moved a step closer to solidifying its reputation as the leading provider of dual-fuel engines in the US, may come as a surprise since one of Wartsila’s affiliates helped Crowley design the con-ros.

As TradeWinds has reported, demand for engines that can run on both diesel and LNG is on the rise due to high fuel prices and increasingly strict emissions standards but critics are concerned about issues like casualties caused by the loss of power and the limited availability of LNG fuel.