WinGD unveils first NH3 marine engine

The X52DF-A engine has been delivered and installed on a 46,000m³ LPG/ammonia carrier being built for EXMAR, making it the first ammonia-fuelled gas carrier set to enter commercial service.

The 52-bore engine was manufactured by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Engine & Machinery Business Unit and installed on the first of four sister vessels under construction at HD Hyundai Mipo in South Korea.

Performance tests confirmed the engine’s efficiency and emissions profile is comparable to conventional diesel engines, paving the way for ammonia as a viable marine fuel.

“With such convincing results, it is clear that ammonia fuel has a vital role to play in the decarbonisation of our industry,” said Sebastian Hensel, vice president of R&D at WinGD.

“Working with trail-blazer partners like EXMAR has been essential in bringing this technology to market.”

The X-DF-A engine uses high-pressure ammonia injection with a small pilot fuel dose of just 5% at full load. It matches the performance of WinGD’s diesel engines in both ammonia and diesel modes. A second unit in the 52-bore series is scheduled for delivery later this year.

WinGD already holds an early orderbook of around 30 X-DF-A engines for use in gas carriers, bulkers and containerships. As ammonia fuel, carbon-free when produced with renewable energy, enters the market, the X-DF-A platform offers shipowners a concrete path to meet tightening emissions regulations.