WinGD has completed another factory acceptance testing (FAT) for its ammonia-fuelled two-stroke marine engine. This further advances the development and commercial readiness of ammonia-fuelled propulsion for zero-carbon shipping.
The latest FAT follows the completion of both type approval testing (TAT) and the first FAT of WinGD’s ammonia-fuelled engine platform in South Korea earlier this year, marking continued progress in the validation and deployment of ammonia propulsion technology. The X52DF-A-1.0 engine, built by Yuchai Marine Power (YCMP), underwent testing in April 2026, in the presence of China Classification Society.
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LPG/ammonia carriers
The engine will be installed on the first vessel for Tianjin Southwest Maritime in a series of four LPG/ammonia carriers currently under construction at CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company Limited in China. The project represents a further step in the commercial deployment of ammonia-fuelled two-stroke propulsion for this vessel type, supporting the industry’s transition towards low- and zero-carbon fuels.
The testing programme, which took place on the 52-bore engine to be installed on a 25,000-m3 LPG/ammonia carrier, demonstrated stable engine performance and encouraging emissions results. NOx emissions during ammonia operation were significantly lower than those from conventional fuels, while N2O emissions remained minimal, contributing to an improved overall greenhouse gas profile.
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Thirty ammonia engines on order
Confidence in ammonia as a future marine fuel continues to grow, as reflected in WinGD’s orderbook with over thirty X-DF-A engines across multiple vessel segments, including gas and bulk carriers, tankers and container vessels. This momentum highlights the pace of adoption as engine technology, ship design and operational frameworks advance in parallel, with the completion of testing further demonstrating the robustness of the programme.
This latest milestone reflects continued global investment in ammonia propulsion technology, with early projects demonstrating its growing viability across key shipping segments. As a scalable, carbon-free fuel, ammonia is gaining traction as part of the industry’s long-term decarbonisation strategy, supported by parallel developments in fuel production, infrastructure and vessel design. A growing body of studies, including the recent analysis by WinGD and Envision, continues to highlight ammonia’s economic competitiveness and long-term viability as a marine fuel.
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High-pressure ammonia injection
The X-DF-A engine platform features high-pressure ammonia injection supplemented by a low, targeted pilot fuel dose of around five per cent at full load. It delivers load handling, dynamic response and fuel efficiency comparable to WinGD’s diesel-fuelled X-Engines in both ammonia and diesel operating modes, offering shipowners a practical pathway to reduce emissions while maintaining operational flexibility.
Picture: The WinGD X52DF-A-1.0 engine, built by Yuchai Marine Power (YCMP) completed FAT in April 2026 (photo by WinGD).
