WinGD X-DF engines to power Sovcomflot LNG fueled Aframaxes

Each ship will be powered by a seven-cylinder, 62 cm bore type 7X62DF engines from WinGD's X-generation

APRIL 13, 2017 — The four LNG-fueled Aframax tankers ordered by Russia’s SCF Group (Sovcomflot) (see earlier story) will be powered Winterthur Gas & Diesel (WinGD) low-speed dual-fuel engines with X-DF low-pressure gas admission.

Each of the four ships will have a seven-cylinder, 62 cm bore type 7X62DF engines from WinGD’s X-generation.

The ships will be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) of South Korea at its shipyard in Samho, while the 7X62DF engines will be built by HHI’s Engine & Machinery Division (HHI-EMD) in Ulsan.

The 7X62DF engines are rated 13,800 kW at 86 rpm and designed to operate on a choice of LNG, HFO, distillate or hybrid liquid fuels. The engines comply with IMO Tier III limits for oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in their gas fuel mode, and with IMO Tier II when burning liquid fuel. To enable IMO Tier III compliance on liquid fuel operating mode, the contract also specifies the supply of low-pressure selective catalytic reduction (SCR) after treatment systems for the 7X62DF engine.

The ships’ auxiliaries and boilers will also be equipped for operation on gas fuel.

As well as the engine designs, WinGD will also supply its Engine Diagnostic System which targets increased availability via monitoring, lower fuel costs via engine performance optimizing and extension of predicted Times Between Overhaul (TBO) of components.

“This order represents a vote of confidence in X-DF and a recognition from SCF Group and its partners of the benefits of low-pressure X-DF technology to both their business and the environment,” notes Martin Wernli, WinGD CEO. “Further, with this project the SCF Group has raised the bar for environmentally-friendly Aframax tankers. Overall the order for the 7X62DF for the gas-fueled Aframax tankers is a very clear message that our low-pressure lean burn technology is becoming the industry standard for all LNG-fueled vessels, and not just LNG carriers.”

WinGD notes that the WX72DF successfully passed the Type Approval Test (TAT) on March 22. To date, seven engines have been built, all completing the respective shop tests (FAT). All X-DF engines are meeting and exceeding by far the requirements for Tier III NOx emissions.