WinGD delivers largest methanol engine to date

The ten-cylinder, 92 bore X-DF-M engine is destined for a 16,000 teu container ship and its delivery was marked by a ceremony held at CMD in Shanghai, attended by senior executives from WinGD, CMD, China State Shipbuilding Corporation and eight classification societies.

“It is a big responsibility to build the first engine of any type, especially one for an emerging fuel with the potential of methanol,” said a spokesperson for CMD.

“Our debut methanol-fuelled engine performed as expected across all tests and we are looking forward to offering the X-DF-M platform as a new option for shipbuilders.”

There are 56 X-DF-M engines on order across bore sizes ranging from 52 to 92, in similar cylinder configurations and engine rating fields as diesel-fuelled X-Engines.

The first X-DF-M engine will be installed on the fourth vessel of a new series. The previous three engines were fitted with 10X92-B engines which will be converted to 10X92DF-M engines once the first, newbuild methanol engine is commissioned. Dual-fuel methanol conversion packages will be available for all WinGD single-fuel and dual-fuel engines.

The addition of methanol capability to WinGD’s engine line-up extends the decarbonisation options available to ocean-going ship operators, which include the long-established X-DF LNG-fuelled engine platform and a new ammonia-fuelled X-DF-A platform.

“Production of sustainable, renewable fuels of all types continues to advance, but long-term availability and cost remain uncertain,” said WinGD chief executive Dominik Schneiter.

“As interest in methanol and regulatory clarity increases, we anticipate the X-DF-M platform will become a key contributor to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from global shipping.”