Switzerland-based engine maker WinGD, a unit of China’s CSSC, has signed a frame agreement with South Korean maritime tech firm Panasia to upgrade X‑DF dual-fuel LNG engines in service with the latest emissions abatement and fuel efficiency technology.
According to a WinGD statement, the frame agreement will support ship operators in “reducing their cost exposure to maritime carbon pricing, keeping existing vessels competitive for longer.”
Panasia already acts as a system integrator for several shipyards.
“Its technical capabilities and understanding of specific vessel configurations will support WinGD in delivering timely and cost-effective retrofit projects that offer the best possible return on investment through lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions penalties,” the company said.
WinGD noted that the partnership will initially focus on solutions that allow X‑DF engines already installed on vessels to deliver the same fuel consumption, emissions, and low methane slip as WinGD’s latest newbuild engines.
Retrofit options include intelligent control by exhaust recycling (iCER) and variable compression ratio (VCR) technology, effectively converting X-DF engines to X-DF2.0 engines.
As previously reported, WinGD has already completed the first retrofit of its VCR technology on a vessel operated by CMA CGM.
WinGD and Panasia are already engaged in retrofit discussions with “multiple” ship owners, the statement said.