Norsepower and Idemitsu Tanker Co., Ltd. — the shipping arm of Idemitsu Kosan — have signed a contract to equip two new-build Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) with Norsepower Rotor Sail™ systems.
These VLCCs, built by Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) and Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd. (NSY), will carry two 35-metre × 5-metre explosion-proof rotor sails each — a world first for oil tankers of this size.
VLCCs — major crude-oil tankers — are among the highest fuel-consuming ships. Applying wind-assisted propulsion to them could significantly cut fuel consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions, helping shipping move towards net-zero goals.
Until now, rotor sails have mostly been used on smaller tankers, bulk carriers, and gas carriers. Extending the technology to VLCCs — the largest common tanker class — shows that wind propulsion is viable even in the most demanding segments.