In a significant stride towards sustainable maritime solutions, WinGD, the Swiss marine power company, has achieved a crucial milestone with Bureau Veritas granting an Approval in Principle (AiP) for the safety concept of its X-DF-A dual-fuel engine using ammonia. The certificate ceremony took place at the Marintec exhibition in Shanghai, where representatives from both organizations gathered to celebrate this achievement.
The safety concept elucidates the meticulous control measures employed to manage risks associated with ammonia as a fuel under foreseeable abnormal conditions and potential failure scenarios. This certification is pivotal in establishing a secure engine room concept and demonstrating the vessel’s capability for safe operations using ammonia as fuel.
Volkmar Galke, Director Sales at WinGD, expressed the company’s commitment to safety, and said: “Our steady and systematic approach to the new fuel technology coupled with collaborative efforts with esteemed partners like Bureau Veritas, reaffirms our commitment to safety, reliability, efficiency, and sustainability. This latest AiP underscores WinGD’s leadership in introducing carbon-free ammonia power to the deep-sea fleet. Teaming up with expert partners, such as BV, ensures that these cutting-edge technologies will be available well ahead of emission targets, providing operators with essential planning space and valuable hands-on experience.”
Bureau Veritas, represented by Alex Gregg-Smith, Senior Vice President, Marine & Offshore North Asia & China, emphasized the crucial role of trust in new technologies within the maritime industry’s evaluation of diverse transition pathways. Gregg-Smith highlighted that,”This AiP instils confidence in early adopters that, subject to careful considerations in design, build, integration, and operation, the ammonia two-stroke engine can effectively address the rising demand for sustainable solutions. BV is proud to have collaborated with WinGD on this groundbreaking development.”
This AiP follows confirmed orders for the X-DF-A in two bore sizes, with the first engine, the 52-bore X52DF-A, set for delivery from Q1 2025. Applicable to various vessels, including gas and bulk carriers, the X-DF-A engines operate on the Diesel principle in both diesel and ammonia modes, maintaining the same rating field as WinGD’s existing X-engines.
As the maritime industry accelerates towards a carbon-free future, the safety concept AiP plays a vital role in providing shipowners with the necessary assurances to proceed with ammonia-fueled vessel designs. This development positions WinGD and Bureau Veritas at the forefront of innovation, contributing to the industry’s pursuit of sustainable and environmentally friendly propulsion technologies.
