The world’s first case of rotor sails on a capesize bulk carrier becomes a reality. The 200,000-ton class bulk carrier, currently employed under a mid-term contract for transportation of iron ore for Vale, has been successfully retrofitted with two 35m x 5m Norsepower Rotor SailsTM and marked its first call at Ponta da Madeira, Brazil.
Japan’s shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Brazil-based producer of iron ore, nickel and copper Vale International SA have reported the news through a statement.
According to MOL, the bulker is expected to achieve about 6-10% fuel and GHG emissions reductions on Brazil – Far East routes, combined with voyage optimisation technology.
To remind, the Norsepower Rotor SailTM of Finnish clean technology company Norsepower Oy Ltd has been installed on various ship types such as tankers, LCO2 carriers, bulk carriers, and ro-ro and ro-pax vessels.
Both partners’ aim – MOL and Vale – is now to achieve their decarbonization targets.
Vale has a target of a 15% reduction in scope 3 emissions by 2035, related to the value chain, of which shipping emissions are part, since the ships are not owned by the company.
On the other hand, MOL has set a target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with the installation of wind propulsion systems, such as rotor sails and wind challengers.
Earlier this year, MOL and its group company MOL Drybulk announced their intent to install wind propulsion systems including Wind Challenger on a total of seven newbuilding bulk carriers and multi-purpose vessels, which will be operated by MOL Drybulk.
To remind, the Wind Challenger is a device developed by MOL and Oshima Shipbuilding, which converts wind energy to propulsive force using telescoping hard sails.
MOL Group will have a total of 9 Wind Challenger-equipped vessels, bringing the total number of vessels equipped with wind propulsion systems to 11.
Among the 7 vessels to be equipped with wind propulsion systems, 6 new bulk carriers will each be equipped with 1 Wind Challenger Construction contracts have already been signed with Oshima Shipbuilding for 3 of the 6 vessels, and preparations are under way for construction contracts for the remaining three vessels.
In addition, MOL Drybulk has decided to install 2 Ventfoils, a foldable and autonomous unit for wind-assisted ship propulsion, manufactured by EconoWind B.V., on one of its new multipurpose vessels slated for delivery 2025 and operation under a time charter.
