Swiss-based marine engine technology developer, WinGD, received the “Best Project Innovation” award at the Shiptek International Awards 2022, held in Dubai, UAE, for its ‘iCER Project.’ Having been a frontrunner in terms of developing advanced engines for vessels with a key focus on decarbonising the maritime sector, iCER  is the latest innovation supporting the purpose, and offers reduced fuel consumption, a significant reduction in methane slip, combustion stability, and zero risk of auto-ignition. This technology has been ordered for upcoming vessels in the Middle East.

WinGD has in the past as well showcased its active involvement in decarbonising the maritime sector. Through its recently published white paper, the organisation outlined steps that could enable decarbonisation of deep-sea shipping in line with the IMO’s provisions. The guide aims to provide shipowners with an illustration of the choices that can be made to drastically reduce emissions, rather than waiting for the emergence of ‘silver bullet’ technologies.

Speaking on the company’s achievement at the 2022 edition of the Shiptek Awards, Dr. Eng. Ibrahim Behairy, Managing Director, Middle East & Africa, WinGD said, “Decarbonising the maritime sector is a responsibility on all of us, and should be accepted with both hands. The industry needs to work together in order to achieve the targets set by the IMO for 2030 and 2050. We at WinGD have always kept net-zero emissions as our primary goal, and work around that target. This award is a testament to the kind of efforts we have been investing to ensure that the sector achieves a greener status. We are honored to be recognised for the steps taken by us and will look forward to continuing with the same goal in mind.”

An ideal solution for a greener sector

Providing details on the award-winning project, Dr. Eng. Behairy added, “In line with our aim of decarbonising the maritime sector through advanced solutions, we had launched the ‘iCER Project.’ This award-winning project will surely drive the progress of the sector towards decarbonisation. While reducing fuel consumption in gas by three per cent, and fuel consumption in diesel by five per cent, the technology also brings down methane slip by up to 50 per cent, thus making it the right step towards net-zero emissions. Moreover, the innovation is a massive leap towards reducing GHG emissions, and can be used in ‘Gas’ mode to reduce Methane slip, and in ‘Diesel’ mode to reduce NOx, therefore making it the ideal solution to meet Tier III, and replaces the use of SCR.”

The ‘iCER Project’ is not the first initiative taken by WinGD towards decarbonisation. Through its previously launched dual-fuel X-DF engine platform and the X-DF2.0 technologies, which are capable of reducing methane slip by 50 per cent, and also of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a further 10 per cent, the organisation has reaffirmed its intentions to meet the IMO’s targets. In addition to providing advanced solutions to the sector, WinGD also launched its Global Test Centre, where it will be able to carry out more research and innovation around its future fuel solutions, holistic energy management systems, and power generation, based on new energy converters, and therefore provide more efficient decarbonisation solutions for the industry.