KEY POINTS
- WinGD becomes the first engine developer to join MAMII, lending technical expertise to reduce methane slip in LNG shipping.
- Methane slip has dropped sharply in WinGD engines, with emissions now under 0.8% compared to 1.7% a decade ago.
- Broader solutions needed, including improved measurement, certification, and regulation, to complement engine technology advances.
As the first engine manufacturer to collaborate with the coalition aiming to reduce ship methane emissions, engine developer WinGD has joined the Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative, MAMII.
By giving MAMII direct access to WinGD’s engineering know-how and performance data, the move improves the industry’s comprehension of how technology can be used to lessen methane slip, a major issue in LNG shipping.
Methane-based LNG is regarded as a transition fuel that can lower carbon emissions, but its ability to stop methane leaks while in use is what gives it a climate advantage.
“WinGD’s involvement gives us deeper visibility into how an engine manufacturer pushes continuous improvement,” said Panos Mitrou, chair of MAMII. “Together we aspire to make methane slip a problem of the past.”
Methane Reduction Targets Tighten
Methane slip—the unburned gas released during combustion—has long been a sticking point for LNG-powered vessels. Dominik Schneiter, the CEO of WinGD, claims that advancements in engine design have already significantly reduced methane slip levels, which were around 1.7% of total gas volume ten years ago but are now less than 0.8%. In the upcoming years, the company now wants to reduce that percentage to 0.5% or less.
Schneiter pointed out that improving hardware alone is not enough to reduce methane emissions. He emphasized that in order to support advancements in engine design, better measurement instruments, trustworthy certification programs, and more robust regulatory frameworks are required.
“By joining MAMII, we’re reinforcing our commitment to a collective effort that is accelerating at a pivotal moment for the industry,” Schneiter said.
Safetytech Accelerator introduced MAMII in 2022 to address methane emissions from ships that run on LNG. In addition to investigating monitoring and mitigation options, it brings together shipowners, technology suppliers, and regulators to expedite the adoption of onboard methane abatement technologies.
The partnership places WinGD, a Swiss company that has long been regarded as a pioneer in the design of marine engines, at the forefront of an industry-wide initiative to guarantee that LNG shipping fulfills its promise of reduced emissions without jeopardizing climate goals.
