WinGD and HD Hyundai Marine Engine Sign Licensing Agreement in South Korea

WinGD, the Swiss marine propulsion company, signed its first licensing agreement with engine manufacturer HD Hyundai Marine Engine (formerly STX Heavy Industries). The agreement expands WinGD's capacity to bring its dual-fuel and diesel engine designs to bulk carrier and tanker newbuilding projects in South Korea and other markets that use two-stroke engines manufactured in that country.

The agreement covers WinGD's medium-bore X52 and X62 engine series, available in diesel and dual-fuel versions. The dual-fuel models, designated X-DF, can run on LNG, ammonia, LPG, methanol and ethanol, while the single-fuel X-Engine versions are designed for future conversion to alternative fuels.

HD Hyundai Marine Engine was acquired in 2024 by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, part of HD Hyundai Group. Its specialization in small and medium-sized two-stroke engines complements the long-standing licensing agreement WinGD holds with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, which focuses on large-bore engines for vessels such as ultra-large container ships and LNG carriers.

Peter Krähenbühl, Vice President of WinGD's product center, noted that the new agreement broadens the company's ability to deliver main engines in high-volume vessel segments in Korea and allows HD Hyundai Marine Engine's customers to choose WinGD's engine technology. Both companies will work together to reduce costs and improve design integration for the medium-bore engines, while maintaining their reliability and in-service performance.

For his part, YoungJe Woo, Senior Vice President of Business Management at HD Hyundai Marine Engine, stated that the new license expands the range of high-quality engine options the company can offer to shipowners, at a time when efficiency, emissions and costs are becoming increasingly important. WinGD also highlighted its latest advancement in medium-bore engines, the X-S short-stroke platform, available in 52 and 62 bore variants for diesel or dual-fuel use, designed for vessels with deck height or draft restrictions.