CMES intends to harness wind energy with new rotor-fitted VLCC

Chinese shipping company China Merchant Energy Shipping (CMES) has taken delivery of a VLCC fitted with a rotor sail system that can reduce fuel consumption.

PHOTO: The New Aden sailing with four rotor sails fitted. CCS

The VLCC called New Aden has been built by Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC) and comes fitted with two pairs of rotor sails.

Ship classification society China Classification Society (CCS), which oversaw the delivery and naming of the vessel, estimates that the rotor sails can lower a vessel's fuel consumption by nearly 10% during "economic speed" on a Middle East-Far East route.

A rotor sail is a modernised form of flettner rotor that is based on the Magnus effect, which creates air pressure to cause spinning.

Under favourable wind conditions, the rotor sails will enable the vessel's main engine to throttle back and consume less fuel while providing enough power to maintain speed.

The shipping industry is exploring wind-assisted propulsion systems to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

Earlier in September, classification society DNV entered a deal with Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) to provide technical assistance and a design approval for a rotor sail system.

In August, Finish wind propulsion company Norsepower signed an agreement with Chinese building company DSIC to install 28x4-metre rotor sails each on two LNG-powered carriers that are expected to be commissioned by 2024.

By Tuhin Roy

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