Mitsui OSK Lines and group company MOL Drybulk have announced a plan to install wind propulsion systems on seven new build dry bulkers / multi-purpose vessels, which will be operated by MOL Drybulk.
Most of the vessels will be equipped with the “Wind Challenger” system. Mitsui OSK Lines equipped this system on the Shofu Maru (IMO 9919395), which was the the world’s first coal carrier equipped the system, in October 2022, when the vessel had its maiden port of call at Newcastle, Australia
MOL continuously measured the performance of the Wind Challenger over the course of 18 months during actual voyages and discovered that the system reduced daily fuel fuel consumption by up t0 17% and more generally by 5% to 8% on average. The fuel savings incurred depend largely upon the wind conditions encountered by the vessel; savings were calculated using a method verified by the class society Lloyd’s Register of Shipping.
Among the seven vessels to be equipped with wind propulsion systems, 6 new bulk carriers will each be equipped with one Wind Challenger system. Construction contracts have been signed with Oshima Shipbuilding for three of the six vessels, and preparations are under way for construction contracts for the remaining three vessels.
The Wind Challenger system started life back in 2009 as a joint industry / academic project led by the University of Tokyo. In January 2018, MOL and Oshima Shipbuilding took over. Approval in Principle was granted by Class NK of Japan for the hard sail system. The Wind Challenger system (in its first iteration) includes a hard sail made of lightweight, strong, glass-fibre-reinforced plastic that is installed near the prow of a bulker. It consists of four tiers of 15 metres wide by 20 metres high that are assembled over / on top of each other in a telescoping configuration (i.e. the second module fits over the first, the third module fits over the second and so on). At full extension the system is 54m tall. The 2022 built Shofu Maru has a length overall of about 235 metres, a width of about 43 metres and a deadweight of about 99,000 tons.
MOL also announced that a Wind Challenger system would be retrofitted onto the collier Kurotakisan Maru III (IMO 9908205) in the second half of 2025; the vessel transports “steaming coal” (also known as “thermal coal”) which is burned in power stations to produce energy. The 2021-built Kurotakisan Maru III was constructed by Oshima Shipbuilding and it has a length overall of just under 235 metres, a breadth of 39 metres, and just under 90,000 deadweight tons.
MOL also announced that the company is also considering installing rotor sails on some of the dry bulk vessels, which will potentially add another 10% (or more) savings on greenhouse gas emissions. In simple terms, a “rotor sail” takes advantage of the “Magnus Effect“. As the vessel moves forward, the spinning pillar causes changes in the flow of air, which can result in a boost to forward propulsion.
MOL Drybulk also announced that it has decided to install two “Ventofoils” on a new multi-purpose vessel . The Ventofoils are foldable, wing-shaped units that can help convert wind energy into propulsion and will save about 2% of greenhouse gas emissions per vessel.
