MOL and Vale to retrofit bulk carrier with rotor sails

Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Brazilian mining company Vale International have partnered to retrofit a bulk carrier with a pair of rotors sails.

PHOTO: Artistic rendering of rotor sail-fitted bulk carrier. MOL

The 20,000-dwt bulk carrier will be fitted with two 25-metre-tall rotor sails from Finnish wind propulsion systems maker Norsepower. The installation is expected in the first half of 2024.

A rotor sail is a modernised form of a Flettner rotor 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 rotor sails are expected to help the vessel “to achieve about 6-10% fuel and GHG emissions reductions” through lower fuel consumption, the companies claim.

The vessel is under a mid-term contract with Vale for iron ore shipping.

Last month, Luxembourg-based shipping company CLdN installed rotor sails on one of its Ro-Ro vessels.

By Tuhin Roy

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