Swiss engine maker WinGD has confirmed that it will supply methanol-ready and methanol dual-fuel engines for more than 30 new container ships to be built for a major container line based in Taiwan.
The order includes methanol-ready X92 engines that will be installed on twelve new 16,000 TEU container vessels. This order follows a previous deal earlier this year, in which the Taiwanese company selected methanol-ready X82 engines for fourteen of its twenty new 8,700 TEU vessels. The remaining six ships from that series will be equipped with X82DF-M engines, which are designed to run on methanol.
According to WinGD, the contract highlights both the growing competitiveness of its methanol-based engine designs and the direct impact of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) new Net Zero Framework and the GHG Fuel Intensity (GFI) Standard on shipowners’ purchasing decisions.
A WinGD sales director said the Taiwanese operator carefully reviewed its fueling strategy due to the new GFI rules, which add cost and compliance pressure on operators based on their fuel choices. After assessing the options, the company determined that methanol-ready engines, potentially operating on biodiesel for the time being, would best position its fleet to reduce long-term costs under the IMO’s evolving regulations.
Earlier this year, the operator had been planning to use dual-fuel LNG engines for its new vessels. However, after the IMO approved the Net Zero Framework during its Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting in April, the shipowner changed course and opted for methanol engines instead.
A company executive at WinGD stated that the customer’s updated plan, which includes transitioning to zero or near-zero emission fuels like methanol, shows how impactful strong regulation can be. They said it’s important for the shipping industry to keep moving forward, even though the final pricing details of the GFI Standard are still being decided.
According to them, financial incentives that reduce the price gap between traditional and clean fuels will be essential to meeting global decarbonization targets.
WinGD is positioning itself to support shipowners regardless of which clean fuel they choose. Its diesel-based X-Engines and dual-fuel LNG X-DF engines are already compatible with biodiesel and biomethane blends.
The company’s X-DF-M methanol engines and X-DF-A ammonia engines, both being delivered for the first time this year, are designed for use with zero or near-zero emission fuels, giving operators more flexibility as green fuel availability improves.
All WinGD engines are built on a common platform and designed to be retrofit-ready. This allows shipowners to upgrade them to clean fuels when needed.
WinGD is already working on methanol retrofit projects and says its original equipment manufacturer (OEM) experience, combined with close partnerships with shipyards and engine builders, gives it a strong ability to support retrofitting operations.