Three Norsepower Rotor Sails™ (NPRS) have been successfully installed and commissioned onboard the 100,449dwt Post Panamax bulk carrier Chinook Oldendorff (ex. Dietrich Oldendorff). In a joint operation coordinated between Norsepower engineers and CSSC Chengxi Shipyard in China, the vessel was able to set sail just a day after the commissioning work was completed to pick up her next cargo in Vancouver, Canada. During the first voyage, a team of specialists conducted sea trials to assess the rotor sails’ performance.

The equipment supply agreement between the centenary industry giant Oldendorff Carriers and wind propulsion industry leader Norsepower for the installation of three 24m x 4m Norsepower Rotor Sails™ was announced in February 2024. This triple rotor sail solution is expected to reduce the Chinook Oldendorff’s fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by an average of 9% on the vessel’s North Pacific trade route. With tiltable foundations, the NPRS can be securely stowed on deck during cargo operations, ensuring seamless integration with the ship operation by avoiding disturbances during loading and unloading activities. The installation and commissioning processes were performed simultaneously with the vessel’s hull painting and other necessary repairs.

The Norsepower Rotor Sail™️ is a modernized version of the Flettner rotor. Utilizing a small amount of electricity to spin cylindrical sails on the deck, the NPRS harnesses wind and the Magnus effect to generate powerful thrust. This innovative product bolsters the main propulsion, resulting in reduced fuel consumption, emissions, and fuel costs. Each NPRS is partially made from recycled materials, equivalent to about 342,000 plastic bottles.

With over a decade of proven use, Norsepower Rotor Sails™ have accumulated more than 385,000 operational hours on vessels operated by some of the world’s most renowned shipping companies, contributing to a collective reduction of over 25,800 tons of CO₂ emissions. The installation onboard the Chinook Oldendorff represents the first milestone in the collaboration between Norsepower and Oldendorff to advance wind-assisted propulsion in maritime shipping.

The partnership between Oldendorff and Norsepower exemplifies the two companies’ commitment to sustainable shipping: – a 103-year-old renowned company joining forces with an innovative technology provider to safeguard the planet for future generations. Neither can achieve this transformation alone; the transition to a sustainable future requires both large-scale fleets and the latest technological advances.

Torsten Barenthin, Director of Research & Development, Oldendorff, remarked: “This Autumn, we saw Chinook sailing at 13,4kts with only 30% of the nominal main engine power. The rotors delivered a surplus of approx. 3MW propulsion equivalent power. While this is only a snapshot in very favourable conditions, this achievement shows the potential savings and environmental impact that Norsepower Rotor Sails™ can provide when operated properly.”

Antti Aapro, Chief Production Officer at Norsepower, added: “While we worked on the Norsepower Rotor Sails™ for Oldendorff, our European and China operations had to respond to ever-growing demand. Norsepower has now seen a quantum leap towards industrial production. Our staff has grown from 30 to over 120 people over the past two years and our new factory in China is now operational, with production being ramped up. Its capacity will be 50 units by the end of 2024 and 100 NPRS per year expected by 2027. Expanding our capacity is the only way to respond to our customers’ needs, which have dramatically increased recently across all ship types and under all flags.”

Source: Oldendorff