Swiss marine power company WinGD will provide X DF M dual-fuel methanol and X-Engine methanol-ready engine designs for over thirty container vessels to be built for a major Taiwanese container ship operator. The most recent order is for methanol-ready X92 engines for twelve 16,000-TEU vessels.
As well as indicating the competitiveness of WinGD’s methanol concept, the contract highlights the immediate impact of IMO’s Net Zero Framework and GHG Fuel Intensity (GFI) Standard on vessel ordering.
The latest order follows existing orders placed earlier in the year for twenty 8700-TEU container vessels, when the company selected methanol-ready X82 engines for fourteen vessels, with the remainder to deploy X82DF-M methanol-fuelled engines.
Also read: WinGD and Alfa Laval to advance ammonia engines
IMO Framework brings about choice for methanol
In the run-up to the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting in April, the owner had been considering LNG dual-fuel engine designs for its latest newbuild series. After the approval of the IMO’s Net Zero Framework at that meeting the operator re-evaluated its decision, opting to proceed with a portfolio of methanol-ready engines—potentially using biodiesel until they are converted—alongside earlier methanol-fuelled engine orders.
WinGD Director of Sales Volkmar Galke: ‘Alongside engine capex and fuel efficiency, owners now need to consider which fuels they can access to in order to reduce IMO compliance costs. Our Taiwanese customer considered its fuelling strategy to reduce costs under the new GFI regime.’
‘The customer’s strategy of adopting zero or near-zero emission fuels illustrates the shift that effective regulation can bring — and why it is critical that the industry does not lose momentum as the final, crucial elements of the GFI Standard pricing mechanism are decided,’ adds WinGD CEO Dominik Schneiter. ‘A reward factor that closes the cost gap between conventional and clean fuels is essential if the industry is going to meet its decarbonisation targets.’
Also read: WinGD to power Exmar LPG’s first ammonia-fuelled vessels
Retrofit-ready design
WinGD’s X-DF-M methanol dual-fuel and X-DF-A ammonia dual-fuel engines are being delivered for the first time this year.
All WinGD engines can be converted to zero or near-zero emissions (ZNZ) fuels thanks to a common, robust engine platform and WinGD’s retrofit-ready, modular design approach. The company is already gaining experience in methanol retrofit projects.
Picture: WinGD’s methanol X92 engine (photo by WinGD).
Also read: WinGD wins first AiP for ammonia two-stroke engine
