Swiss marine power company WinGD has won an order for two X-S short-stroke engines for container vessels to be built for X-Press Feeders at HD Hyundai Mipo.
The 2,800 TEU vessels will each be powered by a six-cylinder, 62-bore model from WinGD’s new medium-bore X-S series, said to be ultra-efficient. The X-S series has been designed to deliver compact power for vessels with small propellers or low main deck heights, packing high efficiency into a far smaller footprint than its predecessors. The efficiency advantage was in evidence during engine selection, with X-Press Feeders selecting the engines based on lower fuel consumption and emissions compared to other medium-bore engine designs.
Benny Hilström, VP Market Development, WinGD, said: “The medium-bore engine is the workhorse of the deep-sea shipping market. With the X-S series we have a thoroughbred—supremely efficient, easy to maintain, with low production costs and ready for deployment for all fuels. In a size range where the choice of engine has often been automatic, we believe our new range has the attributes to make operators consider their options again – as X-Press Feeders did.”
The X-S series succeeds the established RT-flex50 and RT-flex58 engines and is available in 52- and 62-bore sizes for a range of fuel options including; diesel and dual-fuel LNG, methanol and ammonia. The combination of a small footprint and fuel efficiency around 4% lower than other equivalent sized engines (depending on operating profile), are considered to make the new short-stroke engine platform well-suited for vessels requiring a compact, medium-bore solution.
The X-S series has been designed specifically with low production costs in mind. The cylinder block design is intended to reduce machining time, for example, while a smaller fuel supply unit, gland box, gear train and guide shoe all contribute to both lower manufacturing cost and reduced weight. The engine is around 15% shorter than long-stroke equivalents, enabling more efficient vessel layouts, and a similar reduction in piston dismantling height, simplifies maintenance in tight spaces.
The two 6X62-S2.0 engines, which will be coupled with high-pressure selective catalytic reduction units to meet NOx emissions limits, will be delivered to the shipyard in late 2026.
Image: WinGD medium-bore engines have been selected for X-Press Feeders container vessels (source: WinGD)
