“World’s first” oceangoing ammonia-powered gas carrier, currently under construction at HD Hyundai Mipo shipyard in South Korea, has been fitted with an ammonia two-stroke engine developed by Swiss marine power company WinGD.
WinGD has delivered and installed its X52DF-A engine on the 46,000 cubic meter (cbm) LPG/ammonia carrier being built for Belgian shipping company EXMAR.
Once constructed, the vessel will be the first ammonia-fueled gas carrier in service, and the engine will be one of the first WinGD’s ammonia-fueled X-DF-A designs to enter commercial operation.
The 52-bore engine was built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Engine & Machinery Business Unit (HHI-EMD) and installed on the first of four sister vessels to be built at HD Hyundai Mipo shipyard for EXMAR.
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WinGD said the results from its laboratory test engine runs were confirmed at the factory, with low emissions and efficient performance similar to diesel engines, “offering a robust solution for operators seeking to deploy ammonia fuel” .
WinGD’s Vice President of Research and Development, Sebastian Hensel , commented: “With such convincing results it is clear that ammonia fuel has a vital role to play in the decarbonisation of our industry. Working with trail-blazer partners like EXMAR has been essential in bringing this technology to market. We’re proud to be at the forefront of the clean-energy transition, delivering the innovative propulsion solutions the industry needs as it strives for a more sustainable future.”
Construction of the pioneering ammonia-powered vessel began in Ulsan on December 19, 2024.
Once completed, the newbuilding will feature a length of 190 meters and a width of 30.4 meters, with three cargo holds capable of transporting up to 46,000 cbm of liquefied gas, including LPG and ammonia.
It will also be equipped with various eco-friendly technologies, such as a shaft generator that produces electricity by utilizing the rotating shaft of the propulsion engine, and a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device.