South Korean shipowner Polaris Shipping is set to equip four new 210,000-dwt Newcastlemax bulk carriers with WinGD’s X72DF-M-1.0 dual-fuel engines, as the company looks to maintain greater flexibility over fuel choices in the years ahead.
The four bulkers will be built at China’s Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding and are scheduled for delivery in 2031. Designed to operate on methanol, ethanol or conventional heavy fuel oil, the vessels will give Polaris multiple options as the availability and economics of marine fuels continue to change.
The decision reflects the shipowner’s strategy of limiting its exposure to uncertainty surrounding future fuel supplies while maintaining flexibility as new environmental regulations develop.
As part of the agreement, WinGD will provide dedicated service and lifecycle support for the vessels’ use of alcohol-based fuels. This will include assistance for owners and operators in understanding the characteristics of methanol and ethanol, optimising engine performance and establishing effective maintenance practices.
Polaris Shipping said the ability to use both methanol and ethanol was an important factor in its decision. The company believes the flexibility will allow its charterers to have more choice over how the vessels are operated in the future, rather than requiring the shipowner to determine today which fuel will offer the strongest commercial advantage several years from now.
“We’re investing for the long-term, and this engine choice gives us the confidence to do that,” Polaris Shipping said.
WinGD also sees fuel flexibility as increasingly important for shipowners navigating the transition towards lower-carbon operations.
Dr Carmelo Cartalemi, WinGD’s head of strategic marketing, said owners are seeking solutions that can support their decarbonisation objectives while maintaining reliability, safety and financial stability.
The company’s alcohol-fuel engine platform allows vessels to operate on either methanol or ethanol, giving owners and managers the ability to select the fuel that best matches their operational and commercial needs.
With fuel markets and regulations continuing to evolve, Cartalemi said, this flexibility could become a significant advantage throughout the operating life of the vessels.
