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Norsepower in partnership with Maersk Tankers, The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), and Shell Shipping & Maritime will install and trial Flettner rotor sails onboard a Maersk Tankers-owned vessel. Approximately 10% savings in fuel consumption are expected for the 109,647 dwt product [ds_preview]tanker.

The project will be the first installation of wind-powered energy technology on a product tanker vessel, and will provide insights into fuel savings and operational experience. The rotor sails will be fitted during the first half of 2018, before undergoing testing and data analysis at sea until the end of 2019.

Maersk Tankers will supply a 109,647 dwt Long Range 2 (LR2) product tanker vessel which will be retrofitted with two 30 m tall by 5 m diameter Norsepower Rotor Sails. Combined, these are expected to reduce average fuel consumption on typical global shipping routes by 7-10%.

Just a few weeks ago, Norsepower announced that they will install the Rotor Sail Solution on board the LNG-fuelled 57,565 GT cruise ferry »Viking Grace«.

Opening up the market

The project is majority funded by the UK’s Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) with contributions from Maersk Tankers and Norsepower. Shell will act as project coordinator, and provide operational and terminal / port consultancy to the project team, while Maersk Tankers will provide technical and operational insight.

Commenting on the partnership, Tuomas Riski, CEO, Norsepower, said: »We are optimistic that support for this trial from these industry leading organisations will open up the market for our technology to a larger number of long-range product tanker vessels – paving the way for ship fuel efficiencies, and ultimately reducing emissions, including greenhouse gases.«

Tommy Thomassen, Chief Technical Officer, Maersk Tankers, explained: »Together with our partners, we have the opportunity to deploy an innovative technology that can improve fuel efficiency on our LR2 product tanker vessels and help to reduce their environmental impact.«

Karrie Trauth, General Manager, Technology & Innovation, Shell Shipping & Maritime, commented: »At Shell, we believe that innovation and technology are key elements to improving the efficiency and environmental performance of shipping operations. We look forward to using our shipping and technical expertise to support this trial.«

»Double digit percentage improvements«

Andrew Scott, Programme Manager HDV marine and offshore renewable energy, The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), added:« »Flettner rotors have the potential to reduce ship fuel consumption substantially, especially on tankers and dry bulk carriers. It is one of the few fuel saving technologies that could offer double digit percentage improvements. To date, there has been insufficient full scale demonstration on a suitable ocean going marine vessel to prove the technology benefits and operational impact. Demonstrating the technology in this project will make it more attractive to shipping companies and investors, and could play a significant role in reducing the fuel costs and improving the environmental impact of shipping in the future.”

The Norsepower Rotor Sail Solution is a modernised version of the Flettner rotor – a spinning cylinder that uses the Magnus effect to harness wind power to propel a ship. Each Rotor Sail is made using the latest intelligent lightweight composite sandwich materials, and offers a simple yet robust hi-tech solution. When wind conditions are favourable, the main engines can be throttled back, providing a net fuel cost and emission savings, while not impacting scheduling. Independent experts will analyse the data gathered from the project before publishing technical and operational insights, and performance studies.