Swiss engine designer Winterthur Gas and Diesel (WinGD) has secured a contract to deploy hybrid energy systems on four newbuild pure car and truck carriers (PCTC).

These vessels will be constructed for Japanese owner NYK Line and are expected to be delivered in 2023.

China Merchants JinLing Shipyard, Nanjing, will be responsible for the construction of the vessels.

The ships will operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG), with WinGD’s 7X62DF-2.1 two-stroke engines, along with DC-links, battery systems and shaft generators.

The newbuilds are anticipated to carry vehicles mostly between Europe and the Middle East.

Through WinGD’s new Hybrid Control System, the company will support system integration as well as system-level energy management.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The company stated that it has improved spinning reserves, peak shaving and energy flow for enabling the main engine to operate constantly while evading inefficient generator loads.

Additionally, the LNG-battery configuration is expected to reduce carbon equivalent emissions by around 40% compared to ships running on heavy fuel oil.

NYK Line ship design team deputy manager Mr Keita Fukunaga said: “Battery hybrid technology improves fuel efficiency and emissions by mitigating main engine and electrical generator load fluctuations.

“This project is an important step in our plan to replace current vessels to newly built LNG-fuelled PCTCs, reducing the fleet’s carbon intensity by 50% by 2050.”

Hybrid power systems can function on several operating modes, including peak shaving, for efficient deep-sea shipping.

Other modes are efficient port manoeuvres and bow thruster operation, along with the use of batteries instead of auxiliaries for offering spinning reserve to fulfil the requirement of emergency power.

In a statement, WinGD said: “As low-speed engines are inherently more efficient than four-stroke engines, the carefully managed use of the main engine and electrical energy management aided by batteries can optimise the loading of auxiliary engines.”

In 2019, WinGD released a set of four new short-stroke engines for different types of vessels.