Switzerland-based engine maker WinGD, a unit of China’s CSSC, has introduced its first high-pressure LNG dual-fuel engine, developed specifically for ultra-large container vessels.
WunGD said the new engine, X-DF-HP, arrives at a “pivotal” moment for shipowners navigating the energy transition, with the IMO’s Net Zero Framework currently paused and the prospect of regional regulation becoming increasingly fragmented.
As a result, interest in LNG-fueled tonnage continues to rise, the company said.
Available in X82 and X92 bore sizes, the X-DF-HP is “tailored to the scale, speed, and load requirements of the ULCV sector, with first deliveries planned for 2028.”
Available with the same auxiliary system requirements—such as fuel supply pressure—as other recognised engine concepts, it supports “straightforward installation for shipyards and provides a practical, future-ready option for vessel owners,” the company said.
“Achieving Tier III compliance in both gas and diesel modes using only a standard SCR, X-DF-HP offers operators a powerful, space-efficient, and future-ready choice for the most demanding ultra-large container vessels,” WinGD said.
The X-DF-HP joins the company’s high-pressure portfolio, which includes the methanol/ethanol-capable X-DF-M/E and ammonia-fuelled X-DF-A engines.
“This provides operators with a fully fuel-flexible platform, with established engines such as the X92-B now able to be retrofitted for high-pressure LNG, methanol, ethanol, or ammonia as fuel pathways evolve,” WinGD said.
DNV’s latest data shows that the global fleet now includes 819 LNG-powered ships in operation and 628 LNG-fueled vessels on order.
Moreover, 217 LNG-powered container vessels are in operation, and LNG-powered container vessels account for a big part of the ships on order, with 375 units.
