Engine

WinGD lands debut ethanol-fuelled engine orders for Vale-chartered ore carriers

Engines will be the first of the X-DF-M/E platform optimised for primarily ethanol use with the fuel supply and injection pressure will be modified from WinGD’s methanol-fuelled engine concept.

Published

2 months ago

May 20, 2026

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WinGD lands debut ethanol engine orders for Vale-chartered ore carriers

Swiss marine power company WinGD on Tuesday (19 May) said its first ethanol-fuelled X-DF-M/E engines have been ordered for two ore carriers to be built for Chinese owner Shandong Shipping Corporation and to operate under long-term charters for Brazil-headquartered global mining company Vale.

The two Newcastlemax (325,000 DWT) vessels will be built by Beihai Shipbuilding in China, and will each be powered by a six-cylinder, 820mm-bore 6X82DF-M/E engine intended to run primarily on ethanol fuel.

The engines will be the first of the X-DF-M/E platform optimised for primarily ethanol use. The fuel supply and injection pressure will be modified from WinGD’s methanol-fuelled engine concept already in service to account for the difference in energy density between the two fuels, which otherwise share very similar properties and combustion characteristics. The contract includes options for further engine deliveries should the vessel series be extended.

WinGD Executive Director Sales Volkmar Galke, said: “These first ethanol-fuelled X-DF-M/E engines build on more than a decade of intensive investigation into alcohol fuels including ethanol and methanol. Securing orders for a top-tier charterer and ship operator is the best possible validation of those efforts. This is a clear signal that the shipboard technology and fuel infrastructure around ethanol as a marine fuel are ready, giving confidence to others considering ethanol as an option for maritime decarbonisation.”

Ethanol is gaining attention as a ship fuel due to its widespread and cost-competitive availability in several markets. These markets include Brazil, from where the vessels will deliver iron ore to China. According to Vale’s own investigations, the use of ethanol can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 90% compared with heavy fuel oil, depending on the fuel type and lifecycle assumptions.

Vale Director of Shipping Rodrigo Bermelho, said: “The adoption of ethanol as an alternative fuel is part of Vale’s strategy to combine flexibility and efficiency in the ships that transport our ore and places the company in a unique position for the energy transition in global shipping over the coming decades, whilst driving similar initiatives in the sector. We are pleased to partner with Shandong and WinGD on the world’s first newbuilding order for ethanol-fueled ocean-going vessels.”

With the addition of ethanol-fuel capability for its X-DF-M/E platform, WinGD now offers unparalleled fuel flexibility across Diesel-cycle two-stroke engines. X-DF-M/E, alongside the ammonia-fuelled X-DF-A and high-pressure LNG-fuelled X-DF-HP platforms, are all based on the same robust engine architecture and injection concept – ensuring efficient conversion capability that does not lock owners into a single fuel option.

The engine deliveries are scheduled to take place in early 2029 depending on shipyard requirements.

Photo credit: WinGD
Published: 20 May, 2026

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Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine orders Mitsubishi Shipbuilding ammonia fuel handling system

MAmmoSS® will be designed and optimised to be compatible with the ammonia marine engines of Everllence SE and WinGD and will be used for shop tests of both engines after delivery to HZME’s facility.

Published

6 days ago

June 30, 2026

Admin

Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine orders Mitsubishi Shipbuilding ammonia fuel handling system

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, on Friday (26 June) said it has received an order from Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine (HZME) for its MAmmoSS® ammonia fuel handling system.

HZME is a dual licensee of Everllence SE and WinGD, major licensors of marine engines. MAmmoSS® will be designed and optimized to be compatible with the ammonia marine engines of these two licensors, and after delivery to HZME’s facility, will be used for shop tests of both engines.

The company said decarbonisation in global shipping is a critical issue, and ammonia, which does not emit CO2 when burned, is attracting attention as a next-generation marine fuel that will significantly contribute to reducing GHG emissions in the shipping industry.

“However, as ammonia is a toxic fluid, safe handling technology onboard ships is essential and is expected to drive demand for MAmmoSS®,” it said.

Going forward, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding said it will continue to provide safe and reliable products for ammonia-fuelled vessels to support the expected market expansion.

Photo credit: Mitsubishi Shipbuilding
Published: 30 June, 2026

Engine

Eight classification societies oversee successful TAT of Everllence ammonia engine

Everllence announced the successful Type Approval Test of its ME-LGIA ammonia-burning engine at its Research Centre Copenhagen.

Published

2 weeks ago

June 22, 2026

Admin

Eight classification societies oversee successful TAT of Everllence ammonia engine

Everllence recently announced the successful Type Approval Test (TAT) of its ME-LGIA ammonia-burning engine at its Research Centre Copenhagen (RCC).

Eight classification societies oversaw the testing that took place from 10 to 12 June, marking the latest phase in the engine’s journey towards its market debut.

Bjarne Foldager, Head of Two-Stroke Business, Everllence, said: “The TAT is yet another important step as we definitively move from concept development to seagoing engine operation. It confirms the Everllence B&W ME-LGIA as ready for on-board installation and is the last test before actual sea and gas trials.

“This engine sets new benchmarks in zero-carbon propulsion and digitally connected performance, and has attracted great interest since its development was announced in 2019. It stands testament to Everllence’s unique ability to meet demands and bring innovative fuels to market.”

Everllence officially marketed the ME-LGIA engines at a two-day event in Copenhagen in November 2025. Using the Diesel principle and the well-known, dual-fuel Liquid Gas Injection concept, the engine has a proven track record of several hundred thousand operational hours.

Ole Pyndt Hansen, Senior Vice President, Head of Two-Stroke R&D, Everllence, said: “The TAT is also important in relation to maturing IMO ammonia regulations as it is vital that rules and guidelines are in line with reality to optimise safety onboard vessels.

“This experience comes from industry and the first ammonia-driven ships, which are expected to operate at sea during 2026, will act as compelling input for the development of these guidelines.”

Everllence also noted that the ammonia TAT marked the end of an era with it being the final TAT at the RCC in Copenhagen before the company moves location to outside the city in late-2027.

Photo credit: Everllence
Published: 22 June, 2026

Engine

BeHydro secures LR’s first class approval for 100% hydrogen marine engine

Engine has been developed and tested at ABC Engines’ facility in Ghent and is designed to operate entirely on hydrogen, without the need for pilot fuels.

Published

2 weeks ago

June 19, 2026

Admin

BeHydro secures LR’s first class approval for 100% hydrogen marine engine

Classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) on Wednesday (17 June) said it has issued the first Type Approval Certificate for a 100% hydrogen-fuelled, spark-ignited marine engine.

The approval has been awarded to the hydrogen engine developed by BeHydro and confirms the design meets LR’s requirements for safety, performance and reliability in marine applications.

The engine has been developed and tested at ABC Engines’ facility in Ghent and is designed to operate entirely on hydrogen, without the need for pilot fuels. This simplifies system design and removes onboard carbon emissions at source, positioning the technology as a practical option for operators exploring zero-carbon propulsion.

Claudene Sharp-Patel, Global Technical Director, Lloyd’s Register, said: “The issue of this Type Approval Certificate demonstrates that hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine technology is continuing to mature as a viable option for maritime applications.

“For shipowners and operators, independent certification is essential in building confidence that emerging fuel technologies can meet the industry’s expectations for safety, reliability and operational performance.”

Tim Berckmoes, CEO at ABC Engines, said: “This LRS type approval of our BeHydro 100% hydrogen engines with zero emissions is a confirmation of the future proof technology that BeHydro can offer to innovative shipowners worldwide.

“The 100% hydrogen engine range is available from 900 kW till 2670 kW for different marine applications.”

LR previously awarded Type Approval to BeHydro for its hydrogen-powered dual-fuel engine in 2023, which was the first Type Approval for a dual-fuel hydrogen engine.

Photo credit: Lloyd’s Register
Published: 19 June, 2026