WinGD, Alfa Laval, ABS and K Shipbuilding join forces for ammonia-fuelled tanker design

Swiss marine power company WinGD, Swedish marine technology leader Alfa Laval, and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) will work with Korean shipbuilder K Shipbuilding (KSB) on the development of an ammonia-fueled MR tanker design, under a memorandum of understanding signed in April. The design will feature a 6X52DF-A engine from WinGD.

Onsite at Posidonia for the signing, left to right, Stefano Bottino, Global Sales Manager, Fuel Supply Systems, Alfa Laval, Sameer Kalra, President, Marine Division Alfa Laval, Marcel Ott, GM Application & Technical Sales, WinGD, Volkmar Galke, Director Sales, WinGD, Rudolf Holtbecker, Director Customer Support, WinGD

WinGD will work with KSB to deliver fuel gas system specifications suitable for the vessel application and the selected engine, while Alfa Laval will deliver the detailed documentation for the final fuel gas system design.

WinGD Vice President R&D, Sebastian Hensel, said: “After early orders for bulk carriers and ammonia carriers, it is encouraging to see that ammonia-fueled tanker projects are picking up momentum. And it is even more encouraging that our XDF-A engines are at the heart of many of these projects. Developing full vessel designs that shipowners can adopt easily will only accelerate the transition and we are pleased to be part of the collaboration with KSB in delivering this design.”

Head of Marine Separation & Fuel Supply Systems, Viktor Friberg, Alfa Laval, said: “This MOU signifies a powerful step forward to make ammonia a viable marine fuel. Our proven expertise in handling diverse fuel types, especially methanol and LPG, will be instrumental in designing the new fuel supply system for ammonia. We believe that partnerships are key for the maritime industry to achieve its ambitious decarbonization targets and support the fuel transition. By working alongside WinGD, ABS and K Shipbuilding, we accelerate this transition and make it safer.”

The X52DF-A engine is the smallest bore size available in WinGD’s ammonia-fueled X-DF-A series, and the first to be developed. It is expected to have wide application across bulk carriers, tankers and ammonia carriers, and has already been ordered for two ammonia carriers to be delivered in early 2026. The X52DF-A is also the engine design on which four class societies to date, including ABS, have issued approvals in principle for the X52DF-A series, assuring shipowners that the engine can be deployed in operation safely.

JDPs and other cooperations have been a cornerstone of WinGD’s ammonia engine developments, with several industry partnerships focused on vessel designs and crew training, supporting both the deployment of ammonia-fueled engines and the preparedness of the maritime industry to operate them safely