First deliveries of WinGD ammonia engines set for June 2025

Swiss marine power company Winterthur Gas & Diesel (WinGD) has confirmed that it is on track to roll out its ammonia-capable marine engines by June 2025.

CONCEPT: Ammonia-capable LPG/ammonia carrier. Exmar

WinGD has already secured 30 orders for these engines across bulk carrier, container ship, tanker and LPG/ammonia carrier segments.

“The first engines will be built for four LPG/ammonia carriers owned by Exmar LPG and ten bulk carriers operated by CMB.Tech,” the company confirmed.

Deliveries will commence after the validation process is completed, WinGD added. Engine validation is a process that includes several tests to determine an engine's reliability and durability.

Initial testing of the engine's single-cylinder version has shown that performance parameters such as combustion efficiency, emissions and pilot fuel consumption are “within our range of expectations,” according to Sebastian Hensel, WinGD’s vice president of research and development.

The single-cylinder engine test is a key step in the broader testing process, allowing the engine-maker team to fine-tune the ammonia combustion system, optimise emissions and validate the engine design in a controlled environment.

Following this, WinGD will conduct full-scale tests of the multi-cylinder engine version at its Shanghai research centre. These tests are intended to evaluate the efficiency and performance of the entire engine as a unit. This includes critical components such as the turbocharger and control systems, to make sure it is ready for commercial use. A turbocharger is used to increase the power of an internal combustion engine.

Multi-cylinder testing will also verify that safety concepts have been incorporated into the engine design.

The full validation process is expected to conclude before the planned delivery date in June.

By Konica Bhatt

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online