The Swiss company WinGD has received approval for its first methanol engine, which was built by CMD in Shanghai.
With ten cylinders and 92 bores, the “X-DF-M” is the largest engine of its kind and will soon be used on a 16,000 TEU container ship being built for the Chinese shipping company Cosco.
According to WinGD, 56 methanol engines with bore sizes between 52 and 92 have already been ordered, with similar cylinder configurations and performance to the diesel-powered X engines. In addition to this new model range, the company also builds LNG and ammonia engines, which offers shipping companies additional options for decarbonization.
“The production of sustainable, renewable fuels of all kinds continues to advance, but the long-term availability and costs remain uncertain,” said WinGD CEO Dominik Schneiter. “Given the growing interest in methanol and increasing regulatory clarity, we expect the X-DF-M platform to make an important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from global shipping.”
WinGD receives type approval for methanol engine
The delivery of the methanol engine was marked by a handover ceremony at engine builder CMD in Shanghai, attended by representatives from WinGD, CMD and the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), as well as local government officials and global customers and partners. Eight classification societies were also present to sign the X-DF-M type approval certificate. This will ensure that manufacturers can build the engine according to WinGD’s design.
“It’s a big responsibility to build the first engine of any kind, especially one for a new fuel with the potential of methanol,” said a representative from CMD. “Our first methanol-fueled engine has performed as expected in all tests and we look forward to offering the X-DF-M platform as a new option for shipbuilders.”
The vessel on which the engine will be installed is the fourth in a new series under construction for Cosco at the Yangzhou shipyard. The previous three engines were equipped with 10X92-B engines, which will be converted after the first newly-built methanol engine is commissioned. WinGD announced that dual-fuel methanol conversion packages will be available for all of the company’s single and dual-fuel engines.
