Yachting Art Magazine

Those who doubt the reality of the energy transition in maritime transport – but also in yachting and superyachts – should read this article by Actunautique Yachting Art.

The Swiss group WinGD, a specialist in marine propulsion solutions, has just signed a major contract with a Taiwanese shipowner to equip more than thirty container ships with its dual-fuel engines, which are compatible with methanol. This strategic partnership not only demonstrates the rise of alternative fuels, but also the immediate effect of the IMO's new environmental regulatory framework on shipping companies' investment decisions.

Recent orders include a series of twelve 16,000 TEU vessels that will be equipped with X92 engines designed to run on methanol. These vessels are in addition to an earlier order for twenty 8,700 TEU container ships placed earlier this year, including fourteen ships with methanol-ready X82 engines, while the remaining six will benefit directly from dual-fuel X82DF-M engines capable of using methanol from the moment they enter service.

The Swiss manufacturer emphasises that this shift towards methanol is the result of strategic thinking on the part of its Taiwanese customer in response to the entry into force of new rules on the carbon intensity of marine fuels (GFI Standard). For Volkmar Galke, Sales Director at WinGD, ‘the combination of investment cost, energy efficiency and access to the right fuels is now decisive. In this context, our engines appear to be a relevant response to regulatory requirements and economic constraints.’

Prior to the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting in April, the shipowner was still considering opting for dual-fuel LNG engines. However, the approval of the Net Zero Framework at this meeting changed the situation. The operator then reassessed its priorities and chose to invest in methanol-ready solutions, with the option of using biofuels initially while awaiting conversion.

According to Dominik Schneiter, CEO of WinGD, this shift illustrates the concrete impact of regulation on industrial choices. ‘Our customer's commitment to ultra-low emission fuels sends a strong signal. It shows how well-calibrated incentives can accelerate the energy transition in the maritime sector. It is essential that the pricing mechanisms associated with the GFI Standard are adequate to make these fuels competitive.’

WinGD is positioning itself as a technology player capable of supporting operators regardless of their energy trajectory. Its diesel-powered X-Engine range is already compatible with biodiesel blends. Similarly, its X-DF dual-fuel LNG engines can run on biomethane. In addition to these solutions, the methanol-powered X-DF-M and ammonia-powered X-DF-A engines are being rolled out this year.

All platforms developed by WinGD are based on a modular architecture designed to facilitate future conversions to zero- or near-zero-emission fuels. Thanks to this standardised approach, the engines can be adapted to market developments without major structural modifications. The company has already launched several methanol retrofit projects, providing specific technical support thanks to its status as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and its strong links with shipyards and engine manufacturers.

In a global context where decarbonisation is becoming an operational imperative, this contract illustrates the emergence of new priorities in the maritime industry. Alternative powertrains, now considered viable in the short term, are gradually becoming the norm for shipowners keen to meet future IMO standards while maintaining their competitiveness.

With this new order, WinGD is strengthening its role in the energy transition of maritime transport and confirming the technological maturity of its methanol engines, which are now being adopted on an industrial scale.