WinGD, Belgian shipper developing ammonia-fueled fleet

Swiss marine power company WinGD and Belgian shipping group CMB.TECH say they will develop a fleet of ammonia-fueled bulk carriers.

The companies aim to install the ammonia dual-fuel X72DF engine on a series of 10 210 000 DWT bulk carriers to be built at a Chinese shipyard in 2025 and 2026.

Under this joint development project, CMB.TECH will support WinGD in establishing its ammonia-fueled engine concept for a large bore engine. CMB.TECH has significant insight into alternative fuels and builds, designs, owns and operates large marine and industrial applications that run on hydrogen and ammonia.

Both WinGD and CMB.TECH said ammonia will play a significant role in the decarbonization of the maritime industry. The series of large bulk carriers powered by WinGD’s ammonia engines will be the first of its kind and proof that large sea-going vessels can be powered by zero-carbon fuels, the companies said.

“We believe that ammonia is the most promising zero-carbon fuel for deep sea vessels,” said Alexander Saverys CMB CEO. “Our intention is to have dual-fuel ammonia-diesel engines on our dry bulk vessels, container vessels and chemical tankers. Collaborating with WinGD on the development of the first ammonia-fueled two-stroke engines for our fleet is a pioneering partnership on the road to zero emissions in shipping.”

The development project with CMB.TECH is one of several projects WinGD is carrying out with shipowners and engine builders to ensure that dual-fuel ammonia two-stroke engines will be available as the global fleet prepares to adopt green fuels to meet long-term decarbonization targets.

“This project is a significant step in accelerating our ammonia technology roadmap for a zero-carbon future,” said Klaus Heim WinGD CEO. “Having CMB.TECH’s input into the engine development will be invaluable given their alternative fuel expertise and their ship operator’s perspective on how an engine concept is implemented and ultimately operated. The project is an opportunity to widen the roll-out of ammonia technology across our portfolio, in line with our previously stated timeframe of introducing the first engine concept in 2025.”

Klaus Heim, WinGD CEO. (Image: WinGD)

These newest engines in WinGD’s X-DF portfolio will add ammonia capability to the proven technology of WinGD’s X engines. They will be based on the X92B engine, whose market-leading fuel efficiency makes it an ideal starting point for developing large bore ammonia-fuelled engines.