WinGD to supply methanol engines for COSCO container vessels

X92-B engine (Photo: WinGD)

WinGD (Winterthur Gas & Diesel), part of the CSSG Group which has its headquarters in Winterthur, Switzerland, is to supply its 10X92DF-M methanol engines for four 16,000 TEU container vessels due to be built for COSCO Shipping Lines.

The methanol engines will be delivered from engine builder CSSC CMD, based in Shanghai, China, which is jointly developing the engines with WinGD.

The fourth vessel in the series will be the first to have methanol engines installed as original equipment. Earlier vessels will initially have methanol-ready X92-B engines installed, with conversion to methanol fuel completed before they enter service.

The X92DF-M engines are based on the X92-B (pictured), already featuring on container ships operated by COSCO, MSC and CMA CGM. The X92DF-M will feature the same high-pressure diesel combustion cycle.

Signing ceremony attended by the collaboration partners from COSCO and CSSC (Photo: WinGD)

WinGD says that the ships will be some of the first methanol-fuel container vessels built in China, representing a ‘significant investment’ in the country’s green transformation strategy.

The order will support development of a conversion package for the X92-B engine, opening the market for vessels with this engine to be converted to using the carbon-neutral fuel.

In addition, WinGD is also developing ammonia-fuel engines in preparation for the wider availability of the green fuel.

With construction being carried out at COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Yangzhou), the vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2025.