WinGD VCR technology set to debut on NYK Line LNG-powered newbuilds

Swiss marine power company WinGD will carry out the first commercial installation of its new variable compression ratio (VCR) technology on two new dual-fuel LNG-powered vessels being built for Japanese shipping company NYK Line.

A 95,000 dwt bulk carrier and a 7,000 CEU pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) will be the first two-stroke powered vessels that can dynamically optimize combustion depending on the fuel being used – delivering improved emissions, fuel economy and fuel flexibility.

The bulker and PCTC are currently under construction at Oshima Shipbuilding and Shin Kurushima Dockyard, respectively.

VCR technology was introduced in June 2023 after more than a decade of co-development with Mitsui E&S DU (MESDU). The simple hydraulic solution mounted on the piston crosshead represents a breakthrough in two-stroke engine design as the first concept enabling compression ratio to be adjusted, delivering significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions in both diesel and gas modes (around 6% and 3% respectively).

Running in diesel mode, this equates to a saving of around 1,555 tonnes of CO2e a year – the equivalent of taking 338 ‘typical passenger cars’ off the road for a year, according to US Environmental Protection Agency figures.

“NYK Line has long been a valued development partner, entrusting WinGD with innovative, sustainability driven projects, including recently our first system integration project. Strong partnerships make sustainable ships, and it is fitting that this collaboration has now resulted in the first deployments of VCR, a technology that we believe can have a huge impact on performance of our X DF LNG-fuelled engines,” Marcel Ott, WinGD General Manager Application & Technical Sales, commented.

The first reference, the Oshima-built bulk carrier, is expected to be delivered in 2025. It will be powered by a WinGD 6X62DF-2.1 engine.

The PCTC is planned to be delivered in 2026, powered by a WinGD 7X62DF-S2.0 engine. The PCTC vessel will mark the first deployment of WinGD’s new 62-bore short-stroke engine. It will also be among the first to feature on-engine iCER – a compact version of the X-DF2.0 technology that offers further reductions in fuel consumption and emissions while assuring Tier III NOx compliance in both gas and diesel modes.

VCR technology is currently available as an option for 62- and 72-bore X-DF engines and has no impact on engine footprint and installation requirements.

NYK Line currently has two identical LNG-powered 95,000 dwt coal carriers on order at Oshima Shipbuilding as well as two LNG-fueled 6,900 CEU PCTC at Shin Kurushima, data provided by VesselsValue shows.