Swiss marine power company WinGD has reached a landmark moment in the development of zero-carbon marine fuels with the successful sea trials and delivery of ANTWERPEN, to Belgian gas shipowner and infrastructure developer EXMAR. Powered by WinGD’s X52DF-A ammonia-fuelled engine, the vessel is the world’s first ocean-going ship designed to operate on ammonia fuel.
The achievement is the result of collaboration between WinGD, EXMAR, engine builder HD Hyundai Engine Machinery Division (HHI EMD) and shipyard HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. which have worked together to demonstrate ammonia’s viability as a marine fuel for deep-sea shipping. This is the first in a series of four newbuild ammonia dual-fuel midsize gas carriers, for EXMAR, each to be named after a Belgian city.
The ongoing results from real world operation of the ANTWERPEN, a 46,000m³ LPG/ammonia carrier, will help build confidence in ammonia as a future marine fuel. Ammonia is a readily available zero carbon fuel, with low sulphur and particulate emissions, making it a strong contender as a marine fuel. With completion of testing and successful sea trials, the X-DF-A has moved from concept to commercial reality, marking a real landmark in shipping’s decarbonisation journey.
The recent sea trials of the ANTWERPEN in South Korea confirmed that the engine delivers load handling, dynamic response and fuel efficiency on par with WinGD’s equivalent diesel-fuelled X-Engines in both ammonia and diesel operating modes.
With 40 orders for the X-DF-A across multiple vessel segments, including gas and bulk carriers, tankers and container vessels, ammonia is poised to play a significant role in the future fuel mix.
(Photo from WinGD)