Korean shipbuilders push wind-assisted propulsion to decarbonize LNG and container fleets
As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) tightens its carbon-reduction rules, more ships are adopting wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) that use wind as thrust. The method installs wind devices on ships to supplement propulsion with wind power, reducing main engine fuel consumption and associated carbon emissions, and is drawing attention as a decarbonization technology. According…
As global carbon reduction regulations tighten, Korean shipbuilders are leading the charge in adopting wind-assisted propulsion (WAPS) systems to decarbonize their fleets. WAPS harnesses wind power to supplement main engine thrust, leading to reduced fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Korean shippers HMM and Wooyang Shipping recently signed long-term charter agreements with Brazilian miner Vale, ordering eight and four 210,000-ton bulk carriers respectively equipped with rotor sails, a type of WAPS. Vale anticipates the ships will cut fuel consumption by up to 10% per vessel.
The International Windship Association's (IWSA) recent report reveals container ships present unique challenges for WAPS installation due to limited deck space and retrofitting difficulties. Maersk recently teamed up with U.K.-based Anemoi Marine Technologies to install 35-meter-long, 5-meter-diameter rotor sails on an 8,700-TEU container ship, marking the first such installation on a container vessel. The IWSA estimates 107 large merchant ships now sport WAPS, with 46 newly built and 61 retrofitted onto existing vessels.
LNG carriers have also joined the WAPS fold. Hanwha Ocean, a Hanwha Group ship, recently completed construction on an LNG carrier equipped with two Wind Challengers, a WAPS developed by Japanese shipper MOL. This vessel, set to deliver to U.S. energy company Chevron, boasts fuel consumption reductions of up to 12%. Korean heavy shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is also pushing forward with a project to develop a 174,000-cubic-meter LNG carrier fitted with Windwings, a wing-shaped sail created by U.K.-based BAR Technologies.
Wind-assisted propulsion systems can be retrofitted to existing ships without altering engines or fuel systems, making them an attractive decarbonization option.
Written by urgent.news from Hellenic Shipping News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.