WinGD Achieves Milestone with Delivery of Largest Methanol-Fueled Marine Engine
Swiss marine power company WinGD has achieved a significant milestone with the successful completion of factory and type approval tests for its first methanol-fueled engine, which is now set for delivery to a shipyard. The ten-cylinder, 92-bore X-DF-M engine is a major advancement in marine propulsion technology, being the largest methanol-fueled engine constructed to date.
This innovative engine will be installed on a 16 000 TEU containership currently under construction for COSCO Shipping Lines at the COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry shipyard in Yangzhou. The delivery represents a crucial step in the maritime industry’s ongoing transition to cleaner fuel alternatives.
WinGD’s expanding portfolio of alternative fuels now includes 56 X-DF-M engines on order, with bore sizes ranging from 52 to 92, and configurations similar to the company’s diesel-fueled X-Engines. The introduction of methanol capability enhances WinGD’s existing decarbonization options, which include the established X-DF LNG-fueled engine platform and the developing ammonia-fueled X-DF-A platform.
“Production of sustainable, renewable fuels of all types continues to advance, but long-term availability and cost remain uncertain,” stated Dominik Schneiter, CEO of WinGD.
“Ship operators can trust WinGD to deliver reliable and efficient engine designs that facilitate decarbonization across all potential fuels. As interest in methanol grows and regulatory clarity improves, we expect the X-DF-M platform to play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from global shipping.”
The achievement was celebrated at a delivery ceremony at engine builder CMD in Shanghai, attended by senior executives from WinGD, CMD, and China State Shipbuilding Corporation, along with local government officials and industry partners. A significant moment of the event was the signing of the X-DF-M type approval certification by eight classification societies, which allows WinGD’s design to be manufactured by all engine builders.
“It is a significant responsibility to build the first engine of any type, especially one for an emerging fuel like methanol,” said a CMD spokesperson. “Our debut methanol-fueled engine performed as expected in all tests, and we look forward to offering the X-DF-M platform as a new option for shipbuilders.”
The implementation strategy outlines a phased approach to adopting methanol. The newly approved engine will be installed on the fourth vessel of a new series, while the first three vessels, equipped with 10X92-B engines, will be converted to 10X92DF-M engines following the commissioning of the first dedicated methanol engine. WinGD has confirmed that dual-fuel methanol conversion packages will be available for their entire range of single-fuel and dual-fuel engines.
Methanol’s attractiveness as a marine fuel lies in its potential for low-carbon production. Like LNG, methanol can be produced with minimal carbon emissions using biomass or renewable energy with captured carbon. The development of these sustainable fuel pathways, along with similar routes for green ammonia and e-diesel, will be crucial in the energy transition of shipping.
The successful delivery of this first methanol-fueled engine showcases the commercial viability of alternative marine fuels and indicates a growing momentum in the industry’s shift toward more sustainable propulsion systems.
As methanol gains traction as a practical alternative fuel option, WinGD’s X-DF-M platform is well-positioned to meet both immediate emissions reduction needs and long-term sustainability goals for global shipping operators facing increasing pressure to decarbonize their fleets.
