WinGD powering LNG-hybrid vessels

Swiss marine power company WinGD is supplying its dual-fuel X-DF2.0 engines for two newly delivered car carriers for Japanese ship owner NYK Line.

The vessels also incorporate WinGD’s emissions reduction technology, energy management and digital optimization solutions.

The vessels include the most comprehensive installation to date of WinGD’s ecosystem of solutions, the company said. The WinGD technologies in the LNG-hybrid vessels include WinGD’s X-DF2.0 iCER (Intelligent Control by Exhaust Recycling), X-EL Energy Manager and WiDE (WinGD integrated Digital Expert).

The  7000 Car Equivalent Units (CEU) pure car and truck carriers Jasmine Leader and Wild Rose Leader are the first of four vessels for NYK Line using the same, extensive suite of WinGD solutions.

The new car carriers for NYK will feature emissions reduction technology, energy management and digital optimization solutions from WinGD. (Image: WinGD)

The LNG-battery hybrid configuration comprises WinGD’s latest 7X62DF-2.1 two-stroke engines coupled with shaft generator, DC-links, batteries and bow thruster drives, with system integration and holistic energy management also provided by WinGD.

The vessels are the first in operation with WinGD’s X-DF2.0 iCER technology which is designed to cool and recirculate part of the exhaust gas through a low-pressure path during operation in gas mode. The iCER technology reduces methane slip by 50% while providing significant efficiency gains.

NYK Line has noted that the new vessels, which also feature an enhanced hull design and other fuel economy features, will be 40% more energy efficient than conventionally fuelled ships in the same NYK Line fleet. That efficiency takes the vessels well beyond current and future CII requirements and past International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) current greenhouse gas emission target for 2030.

The vessels also showcase the first deployment of WinGD’s electrical energy solution, X-EL Energy Management, offering a new battery-hybrid power integration and sustainability service. By integrating two-stroke marine engine control into the electrified vessel power system, X-EL widens the range of vessels that can benefit from electrification as shipping seeks to improve efficiency and reduce emissions, the company said.

Based on its in-depth knowledge of main engine performance WinGD has optimized energy flow to run the main engine constantly at its optimal point while avoiding less ideal energy usage. The whole energy system is managed by X-EL Energy Manager.

The car carriers also feature the WiDE engine monitoring and diagnostics, which uses a digital twin of the unique system to compare ideal and actual behavior based on real-time operation and conditions. Anomalies from expected behavior are detected, diagnosed and communicated to crew and shoreside teams with advice for troubleshooting and maintenance.