Accelleron’s work on EPLO, led by Matthias, has provided shipping operators with an efficient and cost-effective means of cutting emissions in their existing fleets. It has also provided Matthias with the opportunity to travel the world and indulge his passion for turbocharged engine engineering. How did he get started in marine engineering in the first place, though?
From racecars to ships: A serendipitous journey with two-stroke engines
Perhaps surprisingly, it didn’t begin with a childhood on the water, but rather with teenage motorcycle riding that fueled a passion for engines and engineering. That passion led Matthias to pursue a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Heilbronn University in Germany, where he discovered a new interest – ships, home to the world’s largest engines.
During his studies, Matthias joined the university’s Formula Student Germany (FSG) team, a program where student teams build single-seater racing cars and compete at an international level. Reichmann was his team’s research and development (R&D) engineer, developing the gearbox tuning for the new internal combustion engines for their racecar, a hobby that began to shape his studies and career aspirations. “My master’s project actually revolved around a test engine for FSG cars,” Matthias explains. “It was an exciting mix of hands- on work and engineering theory.”
Meanwhile, he was also getting adrenaline rushes in a variety of motorcycle races, from Motocross to Enduro, where a rare two-stroke motorcycle was his signature ride – even though 99% of motorcycles are four-stroke engines!
Matthias at the Red Bull Romaniacs (2019) International Enduro Race in Sibiu, Romania
After graduating, his fascination with engines led him first to STIHL, a chainsaw manufacturer, to do R&D for the company’s – you guessed it – two-stroke engines! There, he honed his knowledge, working on the smallest two-stroke engines in the world – the polar opposite of the massive marine two-stroke engines.
Matthias with the world’s smallest available two-stroke engine in a chainsaw
But the in-depth, two-stroke specialization he cultivated at STIHL proved to be a stepping stone to another exciting career move, when suddenly an opportunity opened up to work on giant turbocharged ship engines.
“One day, I saw a job listing to work on two-stroke turbocharged marine engines,” Matthias explains. “I had no background in shipping, but the two-stroke engine connection made sense.” That company was ABB Turbocharging (now Accelleron), which he joined in 2017. By 2019, he had become the Product Manager for Accelleron’s innovative EPLO solution.
The brainchild of one of Matthias’ mentors at Accelleron, engineer Thomas Häni, EPLO was designed to help older vessels extend their sailing lives by cutting their fuel consumption and emissions, to meet new, more stringent efficiency and emissions standards. Matthias credits Thomas, whom he affectionately calls the “Engine Professor,” with helping him apply his knowledge to become a specialized marine engineer. “If there’s something he doesn’t know about marine engines, I haven’t found it yet. Everything I know about them, I learned from the Engine Professor.”
The new adrenaline rush of high stakes on the high seas
Today, as the maritime industry’s decarbonization mandate drives increasing demand for EPLO and other retrofits, Matthias has a team of highly skilled and experienced engineers specialized in EPLO retrofits. Matthias and his team visit every ship undergoing an EPLO upgrade personally, working with the ship’s crew to upgrade the turbocharging components and optimize the engine tuning. This includes a couple of days at the ship’s port of call, wherever it is in the world, and then sailing aboard each vessel, to assess the engine’s new efficiency at sea trials and advise on further engine optimization.
One of Matthias’ favorite EPLO projects so far has been the Höegh Detroit, a vessel where turbocharger upgrades and a simple adjustment to the injection timing resulted in fuel savings of 10g/kWh, equivalent to a 5% improvement on its previous fuel consumption. Using flow meters and thermodynamic calculations, Matthias was able to see the impact in real time, adding, “The savings were immediate and measurable – tons of CO₂ emissions saved every day. That kind of impact is deeply satisfying.”
A truly global experience
“Crews, officers and engineers come from all over the world," he says. “Communication, teamwork, and adaptability are essential, because we have to work closely with crews from virtually every culture – conducting very precise and nuanced turbocharging and engine adjustments to ensure these ships can run as efficiently as possible. That kind of teamwork is the only way the industry can reach its decarbonization goals, so it’s a big part of my job.”
While such successes are rewarding, the work comes with its challenges. Marine schedules are notoriously unpredictable, requiring engineers like Matthias to be flexible. “Ships are on tight schedules, but delays are common due to port congestion or weather. You have to be ready to adapt at a moment's notice,” he explains. “One time I showed up at the port, and the ship was delayed for a week. In a way I got lucky, I got to spend a whole week sightseeing in my off hours!”
Matthias snorkeling at a coral reef in Salvador, Brazil, while awaiting a ship’s arrival at port
Jumping ship!
On one memorable trip off the coast of South Africa, Matthias had to board a vessel far off the coast, where huge waves were rocking the giant ship back and forth. The local crew ferrying Matthias out on a pilot boat looked terrified as they approached the ship. But Matthias summoned his courage and jumped from the boat onto a rope ladder swaying with the ship – and he made it! “That was an unexpected adventure!” he recalls.
From cosmopolitan jaunts to remote villages
Matthias’ work has taken him from his home and office bases in Germany and Switzerland to over 45 countries.
Matthias has visited the countries above, sometimes multiple times, to service ships. (Italy, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Denmark, Türkiye, Jordan, Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, UAE, China, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, Peru, Chile, South Africa.)
He has seen everything from bustling cities like Shanghai to a remote fishing village in Ilo, Peru where he boarded a chemical tanker, surrounded by pelicans and sea lions. “It was unlike anything I’d seen before. Moments like these remind you how unique this job is,” he says.
A friendly sea lion in the tiny shipping village of Ilo, Peru
Keeping family time sacred
During downtime on ships, Matthias diligently writes his reports, so that he can spend time with his family, once he’s back home. For Matthias, balancing work and personal life is important. His two-year-old son has already started to take an interest in his career. “Whenever I’m working from home, my son asks to see pictures of ships. His favorite so far is the Neptune Hellas, as it has eyes painted on the hull,” Matthias adds.
Advice for aspiring marine engineers
The marine industry is evolving, and there is plenty of scope for young engineers wanting to follow in Matthias’ footsteps.
“The engine is here to stay in the marine industry for many more decades, at least. If you’re passionate about turbochargers, engines, or ships, go for it! The technical work is rewarding, and you’ll have experiences and adventures you never imagined, with people you might never meet otherwise,” he says. “From racecars to ships, I’ve been fortunate to be able to combine my love for engineering with my curiosity about the world.”
Are you an engineer looking for an exciting career helping the maritime industry to decarbonize – get in touch!