Large tanker vessel

The Finnish cleantech firm Norsepower has announced a deal with Union Maritime Limited (UML). Under the agreement, Norsepower’s Rotor Sails will be installed on Union Maritime’s fleet of four newly built product tankers. 

The contracted vessels, designed by Shanghai Odely Marine Engineering Company, are chemical tankers with a capacity of 18,500 deadweight tonnes. Constructed at shipyards in China – Fujian Southeast Shipbuilding and Wuhu Shipyard Co – the tankers have been specifically designed to navigate the St Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes. 

Under the deal, each of the four tankers will be fitted with two Norsepower Rotor Sails (each with a diameter of four metres), featuring the firm’s proprietary explosion protection design to meet stringent safety requirements. 

Heikki Pontynen, CEO of Norsepower, underlines how this deal is a major step forward for decarbonisation and says: “This is a significant milestone for Norsepower as we continue to lead the way in sustainable shipping solutions.”

Eight more vessels in Union Maritime’s fleet will be made ‘rotor sail ready,’ facilitating easy retrofitting with the wind-assisted propulsion system in the future. 

Union Maritime, known for its sustainability efforts, has embraced various solutions. A key part of its strategy has been fitting 34 tankers with wind propulsion and investing in BAR technologies.

Bhubnesh Dogra, head of technical at Union Maritime, comments: “We are excited to partner with Norsepower to integrate their innovative products into our fleet, enhancing our sustainability efforts.” 

Bureau Veritas (BV) will classify the vessels with the ‘Wind Propulsion 2’ notation, marking the second Norespower order supplied according to BV rules and the first under the classification society’s brand-new rules for wind propulsion systems (2024 BV NR206).

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