While the voting procedure for the 2018 SAFETY4SEA Awards is open, Volkmar Galke, General Manager, Sales, WinGD explains why company’s X-DF engine series offer significant benefits towards more sustainable shipping industry. The company has been shortlisted for the ‘Sustainability’ category alongside a number of other distinguished nominees. As explained, WIN DG focuses on offering optimisation and refinement while in pursuit of compliance and engine efficiency, safety remains the key priority. Given that currently the challenges for shipowners are many and complex, nowadays, more than ever before, industry’s focus should be sustainability free of complex economic scenarios and uncertainty.
SAFETY4SEA: Your organization has been shortlisted for the 2018 SAFETY4SEA Awards in the ‘Sustainability’ category alongside a number of other distinguished nominees. What is the background and the key drivers behind this nomination/shortlisting?
Volkmar Galke: Our X-DF technology has proven to be the ideal solution for ship owners who are prioritizing compliance, efficiency, cost effectiveness and safety. In light of the 2020 Sulphur Cap and the IMO Tier III regulations, our engines offer compliance and reliability. The emissions reductions from our X-DF dual-fuel engines are unequivocal, providing low NOx as well as near-zero sulphur and particulate emissions.
S4S: When it comes to tackling the shipping challenges with respect to sustainable shipping, what are the key priorities on your agenda?
V.G: For WinGD, the priority is to ensure that our technology offers Ship Owners the right solutions. Engines which are reducing emissions and greenhouse gases while also offering them the best possible CAPEX and OPEX. Our focus with our X-DF technology has obviously embraced LNG as fuel as it offers Tier III compliance without the use of expensive or complicated exhaust-gas after treatment.
S4S: What is your organization doing differently and/or more effectively in order to prepare for a more sustainable future?
V.G: Our X-DF engines are gaining market share due to their immediate Tier III compliance. In the grand scheme of things, we are at the very beginning of LNG as a marine fuel. Continued optimisation and refinement continue to be a priority as our technology continues to evolve and advance through the common goal of further emissions reductions.
S4S: Do you have any new projects on the pipeline and/or plans, related with your safety performance that you would like to share with the industry?
V.G: Our X-DF engines are inherently the safest choice on the market due to their low-pressure technology, based on the lean-burn principle (Otto cycle). Since the LNG is mixed with the scavenge air before compression, the required gas pressure is maximum 13 bar, compared to 300 bar in high-pressure engines. With WinGD X-DF engines, safety doesn’t have to be sacrificed in pursuit of compliance and engine efficiency.
S4S: If you could change one thing about the shipping industry, what would it be and why?
V.G: There are so many complex issues facing Ship Owners today. Far more than ever before. It would be great if the pursuit of a sustainable shipping industry could be a simple decision, free of complex economic scenarios and uncertainty.
You may cast your vote for WinGD at 2018 SAFETY4SEA Awards dedicated webpage till 7th of September 2018!
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and not necessarily those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
