The shipping arm of Idemitsu Kosan, a Japanese petroleum company, will see two of its new very large crude carriers (VLCC; to be built by Japan Marine United Corporation and Nihon Shipyard) fitted with rotor sails.
Each tanker will be equipped with two 35-metre-tall and 5.0-m-in-diameter, explosion-proof auxiliary wind propulsion rotors from the Finnish Norsepower.
The first vessel is scheduled to set sail in 2028.
"By equipping our new VLCCs with the Norsepower Rotor Sail™, we are not only investing in fuel savings and emission reductions but also taking a decisive step towards the decarbonisation of long-haul shipping. This project reflects our philosophy of combining reliable operations with innovation to serve global energy needs responsibly," Idemitsu Tankers said in a press brief.
Norsepower's CEO, Heikki Pöntynen, also commented, "This is a defining moment for Norsepower and for wind propulsion in global shipping. Partnering with Idemitsu Tanker and Japan Marine United Corporation on the first VLCCs with rotor sails and doing so as our first newbuild project in Japan, is a tremendous step forward. Japan has already become the single biggest market for Norsepower projects, and this collaboration confirms both the trust in our technology and its relevance across all tanker segments."
"Alongside the aerodynamic hardware, each installation is supported by advanced digital control systems that optimise performance in real time," his company added in a press release.
Photo: Norsepower