A contract between shipping company IINO Lines and Norsepower will see the latter’s wind propulsion systems installed on board a new-build very large gas carrier (VLGC) which has just been delivered by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in Korea.
In Q2 2024, the VGLC will be fitted with two Norsepower Rotor Sails, each 20m tall. The Rotor Sail is a modernized version of the Flettner rotor, a spinning cylinder which is installed on the vessel’s deck. A small amount of electricity is required to spin the cylinder, and when the conditions are optimal, wind creates the Magnus effect to generate thrust to support the vessel’s main propulsion system, resulting in low fuel consumption and reduced emissions.
Norsepower has calculated that following the installation of the Rotor Sails, the vessel’s fuel consumption and CO2 emissions will be reduced by an estimated 4%, a saving that will help the VLGC meet international emissions reduction targets, including the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII).
“IINO Lines is committed to taking an innovative approach to meeting and exceeding local and international decarbonization targets,” said Hiromi Tosha, president of IINO Lines. “Investing in sustainable vessels is central to our approach and working with Norsepower will enable us to use innovative and proven technologies which fit in seamlessly with our operations. We appreciate all the concerned parties who made efforts to realize this innovative project. We look forward to the installation of the Rotor Sails to make the vessel greener than ever.”
“With more stringent environmental regulation being enforced, interest in the Norsepower Rotor Sail is increasing significantly and our latest agreement shows how action is being taken today across multiple stakeholders including charterers,” added Tuomas Riski, CEO of Norsepower. “This is being underpinned by the real-life performance data from the 15 Norsepower Rotor Sails which are in action today.
“The data taken from eight years of operations demonstrates the reduction of fuel costs and emissions that are achieved, which in some cases is over 25%. It is also Norsepower’s third gas carrier installation contract. We are pleased to be helping IINO Lines, among many others, improve their environmental and commercial performance in the run up to 2030 emissions reduction targets, as well as being part of the solution to help shipping reach its stretch goal of carbon neutrality.”