WinGD has secured the world’s first orders for ethanol-fuelled X-DF-M/E engines, marking a major milestone in the commercialisation of alcohol-based fuels for deep-sea shipping. The engines will power two 325,000 DWT Newcastlemax ore carriers for Shandong Shipping Corporation under long-term charter to Vale, signalling growing confidence in ethanol as a scalable marine decarbonisation fuel.
Winterthur | May 19, 2026 – Swiss marine power specialist WinGD has secured the world’s first orders for ethanol-fuelled X-DF-M/E engines, marking a major milestone in the commercial adoption of alcohol-based marine fuels for deep-sea shipping.
The breakthrough order covers two large ore carriers being constructed for Chinese shipping company Shandong Shipping Corporation, and destined to operate under long-term charter agreements with Brazilian mining giant Vale. The vessels will be built at Beihai Shipbuilding in China and will represent the first ocean-going Newcastlemax bulkers designed to run primarily on ethanol fuel.
A First for Ethanol Propulsion in Deep-Sea Shipping
The two vessels, each with a carrying capacity of 325,000 DWT, will be powered by six-cylinder, 820mm-bore 6X82DF-M/E dual-fuel engines, specifically engineered for ethanol operation.
The engines represent the first deployment of WinGD’s X-DF-M/E platform optimised for ethanol as the primary fuel, extending the company’s dual-fuel architecture beyond methanol into a broader alcohol-fuel ecosystem.
To accommodate ethanol’s differing energy density compared to methanol, while maintaining similar combustion characteristics, WinGD has modified both fuel supply and injection pressure systems. The adaptation builds on proven methanol-fuel engine technology already in commercial service.
The contract also includes optional additional engine orders, subject to potential expansion of the vessel series.
“A Clear Signal That Ethanol Is Ready for Maritime Decarbonisation”
Commenting on the milestone, Volkmar Galke, Executive Director Sales, WinGD, described the order as validation of more than a decade of research into alcohol-based fuels.
“These first ethanol-fuelled X-DF-M/E engines build on more than a decade of intensive investigation into alcohol fuels including ethanol and methanol,” Galke said. “Securing orders for a top-tier charterer and ship operator is the best possible validation of those efforts. This is a clear signal that the shipboard technology and fuel infrastructure around ethanol as a marine fuel are ready, giving confidence to others considering ethanol as an option for maritime decarbonisation.”
Ethanol Gains Momentum as a Marine Fuel
Ethanol is increasingly being recognised as a viable marine fuel due to its global availability, established production chains, and competitive pricing in key exporting regions, particularly Brazil.
The fuel is of strategic relevance to the voyage route of the new vessels, which will transport iron ore from Brazil to China, creating a potential closed-loop supply dynamic for ethanol sourcing.
According to internal assessments referenced by Vale, ethanol use in shipping could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% compared with heavy fuel oil, depending on lifecycle assumptions and feedstock pathways. This positions ethanol as one of the most immediately scalable alternative fuels within the broader maritime energy transition landscape.
Vale: Ethanol as Part of a Flexible Decarbonisation Strategy
For Brazilian mining company Vale, the adoption of ethanol-fuelled vessels forms part of a wider strategy to diversify energy pathways in maritime logistics while maintaining operational efficiency and flexibility.
“The adoption of ethanol as an alternative fuel is part of Vale’s strategy to combine flexibility and efficiency in the ships that transport our ore and places the company in a unique position for the energy transition in global shipping over the coming decades, whilst driving similar initiatives in the sector,” said Rodrigo Bermelho, Director of Shipping at Vale. “We are pleased to partner with Shandong and WinGD on the world’s first newbuilding order for ethanol-fueled ocean-going vessels.”
Expanding WinGD’s Multi-Fuel Engine Architecture
With the introduction of ethanol capability, WinGD has significantly expanded its X-DF-M/E platform, reinforcing its position as a key technology provider in the alternative fuels segment.
The company’s engine portfolio now spans multiple fuel pathways, including:
- Ethanol-fuelled X-DF-M/E engines
- Methanol-fuelled variants already in operation
- Ammonia-fuelled X-DF-A platform
- High-pressure LNG-fuelled X-DF-HP systems
All platforms are built on a common engine architecture and injection concept, enabling scalable fuel conversion without locking shipowners into a single-fuel future.
WinGD says this modular design is critical to reducing investment risk for shipowners navigating uncertain fuel transition pathways.
Delivery Timeline and Project Execution
The ethanol-fuelled engine deliveries are scheduled for early 2029, subject to shipyard construction timelines and integration schedules. The vessels will be constructed at Beihai Shipbuilding in China, with propulsion systems forming a central component of their next-generation decarbonisation design.
WinGD: Engineering the Maritime Energy Transition
WinGD continues to position itself at the forefront of marine decarbonisation through advanced propulsion systems, fuel flexibility, and digital optimisation technologies. Headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, the company traces its origins back to the Sulzer Diesel Engine business founded in 1893. Today, WinGD focuses on emissions reduction, hybridisation, and efficiency improvements across the global fleet.
Its Global Service division provides 24/7 lifecycle engine support, offering maintenance, diagnostics, and genuine parts supply to ensure long-term operational reliability.
A Defining Step for Alcohol-Based Marine Fuels
The introduction of ethanol-fuelled deep-sea engines marks a significant expansion of the marine fuel landscape, historically dominated by LNG, methanol, and emerging ammonia pathways. Industry stakeholders view the development as an important validation point for alcohol fuels as a scalable option in global shipping decarbonisation strategies, particularly for long-haul trades linked to biofuel-producing regions.
As the maritime sector continues to diversify its fuel mix, WinGD’s ethanol engine order signals a new phase in the evolution of alternative propulsion technologies, where fuel flexibility, rather than single-fuel dependency, becomes the defining design principle.
Source: WinGD