WinGD runs X-DF-M methanol-fueled engine at full load

Swiss marine power company WinGD has run its X-DF-M engine at full load on more than 95% methanol fuel, reaching a milestone in realizing this engine design.

The ten-cylinder 92-bore 10X92DF-M engine was run on a testbed at CSSC-MES Diesel (CMD) in Shanghai, China, in mid-December, WinGD shared, adding that the engine ran with less than 5% pilot fuel and minimal pilot fuel injector opening times.

As disclosed, excellent engine condition following the full methanol running was reported by the WinGD’s site team. Note that the trip function to diesel fuel and switching to methanol, at 45% and 75% engine load, were also tested.

The X-DF-M engine will be installed on the fourth of a series of 16,000 TEU container vessels being built for COSCO Shipping Lines at the COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Yangzhou) shipyard in China. Reportedly, the single-fuel 10X92-B engines on earlier vessels in the series will be converted to methanol once the first newbuild X-DF-M engine has been commissioned.

Sebastian Hensel, WinGD’s Vice President of Research & Development, commented: “After validating the methanol technology on our 920mm bore Single Cylinder Test Engine, the 10X92DF-M is running smoothly at full load and according to our expectations. This achievement is a key moment in delivering on our promises to our customers considering methanol fuel, and I am grateful to our engine builder partner CMD and our colleagues across WinGD for their remarkable efforts.”

In 2024, COSCO Shipping Lines confirmed the selection of 9X92DF-M engines for an additional twelve 14,000 TEU vessels, reinforcing the company’s support for WinGD’s methanol technology.

It is also worth mentioning that, in 2023, the company was contracted to supply X-DF-M methanol-fueled engines for a series of six container vessels to be built at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in China.

In total, WinGD is said to have 56 X-DF-M engines on order covering a range of bore sizes, with discussions ongoing for several more engines.