Mitsui OSK Lines, has upped its wind power ambitions, joining the International Windship Association (IWSA), says an article published in Splash247.
Wind power ambitions
Mitsui OSK Lines, Japan’s largest shipowner, has upped its wind power ambitions, joining the International Windship Association (IWSA), and pushing ahead with the installation of a hard sail system on a coal carrier, as part of an ongoing project called Wind Challenger with local utility Tohoku Electric Power.
Wind Challenger is a telescoping hard sail, in which MOL is a lead developer.
Vessel equipped with Wind Challenger
MOL stated today the aim now is toward launching the world’s first vessel equipped with a Wind Challenger in three years time.
Other partners in the class-approved project include the University of Tokyo and Oshima Shipbuilding.
Advantages of Hard Sail
“The use of a hard sail can reduce a vessel’s GHG emissions by about 5% on a Japan-Australia voyage, and by about 8% on a Japan-North America West Coast voyage, in comparison with the same type of vessel without a sail,” MOL stated in a release.
Comment from IWSA
Gavin Allwright, secretary general of IWSA commented; “Having Mitsui OSK Lines step up and take on the delivery of the Wind Challenger project is a significant step forward for both the project and wind propulsion in the industry in general. MOL is a key player in the industry and we are delighted to welcome them on board at a critical juncture in the decarbonisation transition in shipping.”
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Source: Splash 247
