Swiss marine power company WinGD has announced a significant partnership with a leading Taiwanese container ship operator, supplying it with X‑DF‑M dual-fuel methanol and X-Engine methanol-ready engine designs for over 30 container vessels. This contract not only demonstrates the competitiveness of WinGD’s methanol offerings but also emphasizes the immediate influence of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Net Zero Framework and Greenhouse Gas Fuel Intensity (GFI) Standard on vessel ordering practices. The recent orders include twelve 16,000 TEU vessels equipped with methanol-ready X92 engines.
These vessels add to previously placed orders for twenty 8,700 TEU container ships, where fourteen vessels will utilize methanol-ready X82 engines, while the remaining six will be powered by methanol-fuelled X82DF-M engines. According to WinGD Director of Sales, Volkmar Galke, shipowners must now account for fuel accessibility in their strategies to lower compliance costs with IMO regulations. He indicated that the Taiwanese operator’s decision reflects a prudent approach to their fuelling strategy, aiming to reduce expenses under the emerging GFI regime.
Initially considering LNG dual-fuel engines for newbuilds, the ship operator shifted its strategy after the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting in April, choosing a portfolio of methanol-ready engines, which may also use biodiesel during the interim period before conversion. WinGD’s CEO, Dominik Schneiter, highlighted the importance of regulatory frameworks in driving the transition to zero or near-zero emission fuels. He emphasized the need for a reward system that narrows the cost disparity between conventional and eco-friendly fuels to meet decarbonization goals effectively.
With its versatile engine designs, WinGD is well-prepared to assist ship operators on any fuel pathway. Its engines accommodate biodiesel and biomethane blends, while their new offerings, including the X-DF-M methanol dual-fuel and X-DF-A ammonia dual-fuel engines, are designed for seamless integration of zero and near-zero emissions fuels as the industry evolves. Furthermore, WinGD’s modular design allows for easy retrofitting, providing shipowners with crucial support through its OEM expertise and established relationships with shipyards and engine manufacturers.