Swiss marine engine manufacturer WinGD has achieved a major industry milestone with the successful delivery and installation of its first ammonia-fuelled two-stroke engine, the X52DF-A. Installed on a 46,000m³ LPG/ammonia carrier under construction for Belgian shipping firm EXMAR, the engine marks the commercial debut of WinGD’s ammonia-fuelled X-DF-A series and the first ammonia-powered gas carrier in service.
The 52-bore engine, built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Engine & Machinery Division, was installed on the first of four sister ships being built at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea. According to WinGD, the engine demonstrated low emissions and high thermal efficiency during testing, matching the performance of conventional diesel engines.
Sebastian Hensel, WinGD’s vice president of research and development, emphasised the importance of ammonia in the maritime decarbonisation roadmap and praised EXMAR as a forward-thinking partner in the push for zero-carbon fuels. The X-DF-A engine employs high-pressure ammonia injection and a minimal pilot fuel dose—approximately 5% at full load—delivering fuel efficiency and dynamic performance in both ammonia and diesel modes.
The company plans further optimisation of the X52DF-A series as additional units are delivered later this year. The technology has already gained traction, with around 30 X-DF-A engines on order across a variety of vessel types, including bulk carriers and container ships.
Ammonia, which contains no carbon and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% when produced using renewable energy, is seen as a key candidate for zero-carbon shipping. With this launch, WinGD became the first engine designer to offer a commercially viable two-stroke ammonia propulsion solution.
In related news, EXMAR Ship Management has awarded Gulf Marine the cylinder oil supply contract for WinGD’s ammonia-fuelled engine. This achievement reflects Gulf Marine’s technical capabilities to support next-generation propulsion systems. It also underscores the strength of Gulf Marine’s long-standing relationships with customers, built through close collaboration across commercial and technical teams.
In anticipation of ammonia engines entering the market, and in the absence of a commercially available ammonia test engine, Gulf Marine partnered with the Austrian Center of Competence for Tribology (AC2T GmbH) to conduct laboratory testing on artificially aged oils. The results demonstrated the suitability of GulfSea Cylcare XP 5040 and were well received by both WinGD and EXMAR.
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