WinGD debuts X‑DF‑M platform with methanol-fueled engine

WinGD’s first methanol-fueled engine is to be delivered to shipyard after passing factory and type approval tests. The ten-cylinder, 92 bore X-DF-M engine is destined for a 16,000 TEU container ship and is the biggest methanol-fueled engine built to date.

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-fueled X-Engines. The addition of methanol capability to WinGD’s engine line-up further extends the decarbonization options available to deep-sea ship operators, which include the long-established X-DF LNG-fueled engine platform and a new ammonia-fueled X-DF-A platform.

The milestone was marked by a delivery ceremony held at engine builder CMD in Shanghai, attended by senior executives from WinGD, CMD and China State Shipbuilding Corporation as well as local government officials and global customers and partners. Eight classification societies were also present for a signing of the X-DF-M type approval certification, which assures that the engine can be built to WinGD’s design by all engine builders.

As previously reported, 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.

Methanol, like LNG, can be produced with low carbon emissions by using either biomass or renewable energy with captured carbon. The evolution of these fuel pathways – with similar routes towards green ammonia and e-diesel – will be essential for shipping’s energy transition, as will the engine technology to use emerging low- and zero-carbon fuels. WinGD’s range of single- and dual-fuel engines support maritime decarbonisation, whichever fuel pathway ship operators choose.