WinGD advances ammonia engine testing

The latest testing involved the X52DF-A-1.0 engine built by Yuchai Marine Power Co. (YCMP), which underwent trials in April 2026 under the supervision of China Classification Society. The milestone follows the successful completion of both type approval testing and an earlier FAT in South Korea earlier this year.

“The successful completion of factory acceptance testing in China provides further validation of our X-DF-A platform across key performance and safety parameters,” said Peter Krähenbühl, vice president, Product Center at WinGD.

“Working closely with partners such as YCMP allows us to translate development progress into reliable manufacturing and testing outcomes, supporting the safe and efficient deployment of ammonia-fuelled propulsion technologies.”

The engine is destined for the first vessel in a four-ship series of 25,000m3 LPG/ammonia carriers being constructed for Tianjin Southwest Maritime at CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company in China.

According to WinGD, the testing programme demonstrated stable engine performance alongside encouraging emissions results. NOx emissions during ammonia operation were significantly lower than with conventional marine fuels, while nitrous oxide emissions remained minimal, improving the engine’s overall greenhouse gas profile.

WinGD said confidence in ammonia as a marine fuel continues to grow, with more than 30 X-DF-A engines now included in its orderbook across gas carriers, bulkers, tankers and container ships.

The company’s X-DF-A platform uses high-pressure ammonia injection with a pilot fuel dose of around 5% at full load, delivering operational performance comparable to conventional diesel-fuelled engines while offering shipowners a pathway towards lower-carbon operations.