As more and more heavy-lift ships, some significant in size, start to answer the Martime Organization’s (IMO) 2050 decarbonisation targets, we are starting to see innovations (and evolutions) in the adoption of sustainable alternatives. The global maritime industry accounts for approximately 2.5% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, with heavy-lift vessels being major contributors due to their high fuel usage. These ships frequently undertake long-duration voyages, covering vast distances while transporting massive loads. Historically, they have depended on diesel engines, which emit significant amounts of CO2 and other pollutants.
Anemoi (Anemoi Marine Technologies Ltd.) is a leading provider of rotor sails to the shipping industry. Its energy-saving technology offers significant reductions in fuel consumption and lowers CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions to deliver more efficient ships.
NSU (United Kaiun Kaisha, Ltd.) and Vale (Vale International SA) have reached an agreement to install five rotor sails measuring an amazing 35m in height and 5m in depth manufactured by Anemoi on NSU’s Tubarao, a 400,000dwt-type VLOC ship, which has been engaged in a long-term transportation contract between NSU and Vale since Tubarao’s delivery in September 2020. The installation of the rotor sails on the Tubarao is scheduled for around September 2025.
A rotor sail is a device to obtain propulsion by using the pressure difference generated around a cylinder by rotating a cylindrical sail installed on the deck. It is expected to reduce Tubarao’s fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by approximately 6~12%.
NSU has been actively working to make their fleet of heavy-lift and cargo vessels more efficient and reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by introducing energy-saving devices such as rotor sails and transitioning to ships powered by next-generation fuels.
