Everllence’s ME-LGIA engine has successfully completed its Type Approval Test in Copenhagen, marking the final regulatory hurdle before the world’s first ammonia-fueled vessel trials begin later this year. While this milestone proves the commercial readiness of the dual-fuel technology, it forces the maritime sector to confront a severe regulatory vacuum and steep infrastructure challenges regarding the safe bunkering of highly toxic ammonia.
Copenhagen | June 16, 2026 – The maritime industry’s race toward absolute decarbonization has cleared a major technical and regulatory hurdle. Everllence has officially announced the successful completion of the Type Approval Test (TAT) for its highly anticipated ME-LGIA ammonia-burning two-stroke engine.
The rigorous testing campaign, which took place from June 10–12, 2026, at the company’s Research Centre Copenhagen (RCC), was witnessed and certified by eight major classification societies. This milestone effectively transitions the engine from a controlled R&D asset into a commercially viable, sea-ready propulsion system, setting the stage for the world’s first ammonia-fueled vessel trials later this year.
The Final Bridge to Sea Trials
The TAT serves as the definitive regulatory stamp of approval required before a new engine design can be installed on an ocean-going vessel. For Everllence, this represents the culmination of a development cycle that began in 2019, followed by the official commercial marketing of the engine line in November 2025.
“The TAT is yet another important step as we definitively move from concept development to seagoing engine operation,” said Bjarne Foldager, Head of Two-Stroke Business at Everllence. “It confirms the Everllence B&W ME-LGIA as ready for on-board installation and is the last test before actual sea and gas trials.”
The ME-LGIA leverages the high-pressure Diesel principle combined with Everllence’s established Liquid Gas Injection (LGI) dual-fuel concept. By building on an architecture that already boasts hundreds of thousands of operational hours on alternative fuels like methanol (LGIM) and LPG (LGIP), Everllence aims to reassure shipowners of the platform’s fundamental reliability, a critical factor given the toxicity and handling complexities inherent to ammonia (NH3).
Key Technical & Operational Specifications
| Feature | Specification / Detail |
| Engine Series | Everllence B&W ME-LGIA |
| Combustion Principle | High-pressure Diesel cycle (optimizes thermal efficiency & minimizes slip) |
| Primary Fuel | Green/Blue Ammonia (NH3) for zero-carbon operations |
| Pilot Fuel | Conventional marine distillate or biofuel |
| Target Segments | Large commercial vessels (VLCCs, Newcastlemax bulkers, large container ships) |
| Timeline | Commercial debut 2025; TAT completed June 2026; Sea trials late 2026 |
Informing IMO Rules: Safety and Reality-Based Regulation
As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) intensifies its decarbonization trajectory toward net-zero GHG emissions by or around 2050, the lack of finalized, prescriptive global regulations for toxic fuels like ammonia remains a bottleneck.
Everllence’s successful TAT is expected to provide critical data to classification societies and flag states currently drafting these frameworks.
Ole Pyndt Hansen, Senior Vice President and Head of Two-Stroke R&D at Everllence, highlighted the symbiotic relationship between empirical engine testing and international law:
“The TAT is also important in relation to maturing IMO ammonia regulations as it is vital that rules and guidelines are in line with reality to optimise safety onboard vessels. This experience comes from industry, and the first ammonia-driven ships, which are expected to operate at sea during 2026, will act as compelling input for the development of these guidelines.”
The industry will be watching these initial 2026 deployments closely, specifically focusing on double-walled piping integrity, ammonia fuel valve train (FVT) performance, and nitrogen oxide (NOx) or ammonia slip mitigation systems.
End of an Era in Copenhagen
Beyond its technological significance, this specific TAT carries historical weight for the engineering giant. It marks the final Type Approval Test to be conducted at the historic Research Centre Copenhagen (RCC).
In late 2027, Everllence’s R&D operations are scheduled to relocate to a new, modernized facility outside the Danish capital. The move represents a scaling up of the company’s testing infrastructure to accommodate the next generation of alternative energy systems, including large-scale hydrogen technologies and advanced carbon capture integration.
With 15,000 employees globally and its dedicated service arm, Everllence PrimeServ, ready to anchor global after-sales support, the successful TAT of the ME-LGIA ensures that the infrastructure for the maritime industry’s green transition is moving at pace with shipowners’ ordering books.
Analysis: The successful TAT of the ME-LGIA comes at a critical juncture for the bunkering sector. As multi-fuel readiness becomes the standard for newbuilding specifications, fuel suppliers must prepare for the unique storage, safety, and bunkering protocols required by ammonia. Everllence’s progress indicates that the technology is no longer the bottleneck, the industry’s attention must now firmly turn to scaling the green ammonia supply chain.
About Everllence
Headquartered in Germany, Everllence is a global leader in marine propulsion, decarbonization, and industrial energy systems. The company employs 15,000 people across more than 140 sites globally. Its extensive portfolio includes advanced dual-fuel engines, climate-neutral fuel retrofits, carbon capture systems, industrial heat pumps, and large-scale green hydrogen technologies through its subsidiary Quest One. Global after-sales support is managed via its dedicated service arm, Everllence PrimeServ.
Source: Everllence