WinGD and CMA CGM to trial dual-fuel engine

Swiss marine power company WinGD has partnered with global shipping line CMA CGM to test a new Variable Compression Ratio (VCR) technology for dual-fuel engines on one of CMA CGM’s vessels.

This collaboration marks the first time this dual-fuel engine technology is being tested in a real-world setting. Previous factory tests demonstrated significant efficiency gains with both diesel and LNG fuels.

The project with CMA CGM involves a long-term, full-scale test to confirm the technology’s operability and reliability.

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Testing on the vessel is expected to begin after it undergoes dry-docking in September, during which the VCR system will be installed on the vessel’s WinGD RT‑flex50DF dual-fuel engine.

The VCR technology dynamically adjusts the cylinder compression ratio in X-DF dual-fuel engines based on factors such as fuel type, ambient conditions, and engine load, leading to reduced fuel consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

This technology represents the first use of adjustable compression ratios—a typically fixed design parameter—in any marine engine.

The enhanced operational flexibility, fuel savings, and reduced methane slip achieved by VCR technology will assist ship owners and operators in their decarbonization efforts. WinGD anticipates a shift from fossil to synthetic or biomass-derived LNG, along with ongoing improvements in methane emissions from engines and the broader fuel production and supply chain.