Swiss marine power company WinGD has won a contract that will give Polaris Shipping true fuel flexibility for its future Newcastlemax fleet with an order of four X72DF-M-1.0 engines that can operate on methanol and ethanol. The ability to operate on either fuel gives Polaris Shipping greater flexibility to respond to changes in fuel availability, pricing, and regulatory requirements over the vessels’ operating lives and is a key benefit of WinGD’s innovative alcohol-fuel engine platform.
Winterthur | September 10, 2026 – The WinGD engines will power four 210,000 DWT ore carriers being built for Polaris Shipping at Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co in China, with delivery scheduled for 2031.
The X72DF-M-1.0 can run on both methanol and ethanol, providing operators with seamless flexibility between the two fuels while maintaining strict compliance with the regulatory requirements applicable to each. WinGD will also provide dedicated service and lifecycle support for the new alcohol fuels, helping shipowners and operators build operational familiarity, optimize maintenance, and adopt methanol and ethanol propulsion in a safe and economically sustainable manner.
Industry Leadership and Perspectives
Dr. Carmelo Cartalemi, Head of Strategic Marketing at WinGD, said “Shipowners are looking for flexible solutions to help them meet their decarbonisation goals without compromising on reliability, safety or financial stability. Our alcohol-fuel engine platform enables ships to operate on either ethanol or methanol, giving shipowners and managers the option to select the fuel that best fits their operational and commercial requirements. With fuel markets and regulations continuing to evolve, that flexibility can be a valuable asset over the lifetime of a vessel.”
Polaris Shipping noted “Fuel availability and economics will continue to evolve over the lifetime of these vessels. Selecting an engine platform that gives us access to both methanol and ethanol means we can provide to our charter a greater choice in how the ships are operated in the future, rather than having to predict today which fuel will be most competitive in the years ahead. We’re investing for the long-term, and this engine choice gives us the confidence to do that.”
Expanding Alternative Fuel Footprint
This order significantly expands WinGD’s growing orderbook of alternative-fuel engine technology, which now spans liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, ethanol, and ammonia. Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co is also actively collaborating with WinGD on the installation of its innovative ammonia-fuelled engines for CMB.TECH’s newbuild 210,000 DWT dry bulk carriers.
As alternative-fuel engines rapidly progress from early development and testing into commercial vessel construction and operation, WinGD’s technology is increasingly being deployed to support shipowners’ decarbonisation strategies while preserving vital flexibility in fuel choice.
About WinGD
WinGD advances the decarbonisation of marine transportation through sustainable energy systems using the most advanced technologies in emissions reduction, fuel efficiency, hybridisation, and digital optimisation. With their two-stroke low-speed engines at the heart of the power equation, WinGD sets the industry standard for reliability, safety, efficiency, and environmental design, supported by Global Service by WinGD, which delivers tailored 24×7 lifecycle engine support through Swiss engineering excellence, dependable maintenance, rapid global response, and genuine parts to keep engines performing at their best.
Headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, since its origin as the Sulzer Diesel Engine business in 1893, today it is powering the transformation to a sustainable future.
Source: WinGD