WinGD claims methanol and ammonia marine engines have transitioned from pilot projects to commercial readiness, but warns that regulatory uncertainty threatens the scaling required for shipping's decarbonisation targets by 2030.

The Swiss company's comments follow the Global Maritime Forum's report 'From pilots to practice: Methanol and ammonia as shipping fuels,' which concluded that zero or near-zero emissions (ZNZ) fuels are ready for rapid scaling once supply chains are established.

WinGD notes that it became the first engine designer to bring an ammonia-fuelled two-stroke marine engine to market in July following delivery of its X52DF-A engine on a 46,000 cbm LPG/ammonia carrier being built for Exmar. The vessel is the first ammonia-fuelled gas carrier in service.

The manufacturer's XDFM methanol engines are already operating within a global fleet of more than 60 methanol-capable vessels, according to WinGD.

Meanwhile, testing on WinGD's ammonia engines indicates the potential to cut tank-to-wake emissions by up to 95%, the company says.

Regulatory timeline concerns

WinGD echoes the Global Maritime Forum report's call for immediate action from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and policymakers, claiming current regulatory uncertainty creates an "investment pause."

The company notes that while customers express interest in sustainable fuels, they require clear financial incentives to justify the premium costs of green methanol and ammonia over conventional fuels.

The IMO's Net Zero Framework represents progress, but WinGD warns that details — such as rewards for using ZNZ fuels — are not expected until March 2027, just nine months before implementation. The company claims this timeline is inadequate for complex supply chain development needed for alternative fuels.

Emissions verification focus

WinGD advocates for measurement-based emissions verification rather than relying on what it describes as "outdated default factors." The company claims its recent testing demonstrates that current LNG engine technology has reduced methane slip by up to 70% compared to decade-old baseline assumptions still used in regulations.

The engine designer argues that real-world emissions measurement will be essential to demonstrate ammonia's claimed 95% reduction potential in commercial operations as bunkering trials are underway.

WinGD states that genuine decarbonisation requires moving beyond calculations to actual performance measurements, stressing that this approach will reward innovation while preventing greenwashing.

The company concludes that with foundational technologies proving value for total cost of ownership and early commercial adoption underway, the maritime industry is ready to deliver on climate commitments — provided regulatory clarity, enhanced ZNZ fuel supply chain development, and robust emissions verification frameworks are implemented.