Swiss marine power company WinGD is to deliver X-DF-A ammonia-fuelled engine designs for four newbuild medium gas carriers (MGC) to be built by HD Hyundai Mipo for Trafigura, a market leader in the global commodities industry. The 45,000m3 vessels will each be powered by a six-cylinder, 52-bore 6X52DF-A engine with high-pressure selective catalytic reduction.
The Trafigura vessels are another indication of the scaling up of global carrying capacity as ammonia becomes an increasingly important energy carrier globally. The order is one of several that WinGD has received for ammonia carrying vessels.
WinGD VP Market Development Benny Hilström said: “Trafigura selected our technology based on our demonstration of X-DF-A’s development and strong performance indicators to date. With the first X-DF-A engine deliveries due in mid-2025, we will already have gathered significant construction and commissioning experience by the time these engines are delivered.”
As reported recently, WinGD has already confirmed key combustion and performance characteristics for the X-DF-A on a test engine, with full-load running achieved with 5% pilot fuel consumption. Thermal efficiency is the same as for diesel engines, with significantly lower NOx, ammonia emissions at less than 10 parts per million (ppm) and N2O emissions less than 3 ppm.
The engines for the new MGCs are scheduled to be delivered from early 2027 to early 2028.
