Recently, Swiss marine propulsion company WinGD completed the factory acceptance test of its X72DF-A ammonia-fueled engine in China. This technical advancement solidifies the viability of ammonia as a marine fuel within the global strategy for shipping decarbonization. The evaluated propulsion system will be immediately installed on a 210,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) bulk carrier operated by CMB.TECH.
The validation and certification of the X72DF-A ammonia-fueled engine
In this regard, the evaluations of the 72-inch bore system were carried out at the CSSC Engine (CSE) facilities. The validation day was directly supervised by Lloyd’s Register, along with delegates from the American Bureau of Shipping and the China Classification Society. This factory certification complements previous integration and type approvals, completing a rigorous industrial quality control cycle.
Similarly, the fuel supply equipment was jointly developed by Sunrui Marine Environmental Engineering. This effort represents the beginning of a series of ten bulk carriers commissioned by the allied shipping company, reinforcing the level of operational confidence in large vessels.
Efficiency in reducing pollutant emissions
Regarding technical specifications, the design integrates a high-pressure ammonia injection system that requires only a pilot diesel fuel dosage of approximately 5% at full load. Performance data demonstrates that the engine offers dynamic response identical to conventional versions. Furthermore, exhaustive tests confirmed a reduction of over 90% in greenhouse gas emissions compared to other fuels.
Indeed, the executives of the organizations involved highlight the relevance of industrial cooperation in achieving these results. Dominik Schneiter, CEO of WinGD, indicated that technological success is due to strong alliances aimed at solving the challenges of ammonia commercialization. Concurrently, Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.TECH, recalled that the project began four years ago and that this delivery constitutes a decisive step towards sectoral sustainability. Finally, Zhang Guangwei, Chief Engineer of CSE, expressed the plant’s pride in being the first Chinese manufacturer to supply these advanced clean propulsion systems.
Finally, the commercial viability of this technology is supported by an initial portfolio of 40 orders for X-DF-A series engines for multiple transport segments. This trend demonstrates market adaptation to international climate neutrality regulations, a field where Swiss-engineered technology maintains its competitive positioning through a global network of continuous technical support.
Source and photo: WinGD
