Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and its group company MOL Drybulk Ltd. announced their intent to install wind propulsion systems including Wind Challenger on a total of seven new building bulk carriers and multi-purpose vessels, which will be operated by MOL Drybulk.
Wind Propulsion System
Among the 7 vessels to be equipped with wind propulsion systems, 6 new bulk carriers will each be equipped with 1 Wind Challenger Construction contracts have already been signed with Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. for 3 of the 6 vessels, and preparations are underway for construction contracts for the remaining three vessels.
In addition, MOL Drybulk has decided to install 2 Ventfoils, a foldable and autonomous unit for wind-assisted ship propulsion, manufactured by EconoWind B.V. (headquartered in the Netherlands), on one of its new multipurpose vessels (Note 5) slated for delivery 2025 and operation under a time charter.
MOL has established the “MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.2” and has set the target of achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. One of the key strategies to achieve this target includes the “introduction of clean energy, further energy-saving technologies,” and the group plans to launch 25 vessels equipped with the Wind Challenger by 2030 and 80 vessels by 2035.
MOL Group will contribute not only to the reduction of GHG emissions from its own group but also to the reduction and decarbonization of society as a whole through the safe management and efficient operation of its environmentally friendly fleet that combines wind propulsion technology, such as the Wind Challenger.
Breakdown Of Vessels
| Ship type | No. of vessels | Wind-assisted propulsion system to be installed | GHG reduction rate (annual average) | Status | Scheduled delivery |
| Bulk carrier | 3 | 1 Wind Challenger per vessel (+ installation of multiple rotor sails is under consideration) | About 7%-16%/vessel depending on route, conditions, etc. (about 15%-28% when 3 rotor sails are used together) | April 5, 2024 Construction contract has been signed | 2nd half of 2026 – 1st half of 2027 |
| Bulk carrier | 3 | 1 Wind Challenger per vessel | About 7%-16%/vessel depending on routes, conditions, etc. | Construction contract negotiations underway | 2027 – 2028 |
| Multi-purpose vessel | 1 | 2 Ventfoils per vessel | About 2% per vessel | October 2024 Charter contract to be signed | January 2025 |
| Wind propulsion system to be installed | Ship type / No. of vessels | Related press release |
| Wind Challenger | 100,422 DWT Coal carrier / 1 (Delivered in Oct. 2022) | October 7, 2022: Delivery of Shofu Maru, the World’s First Cargo Vessel equipped with ‘Wind Challenger’ Hard Sail May 15, 2024: Shofu Maru, World’s 1st Wind Challenger-equipped Coal Carrier, Achieves Fuel Savings of 17% |
| 64,000 DWT Ultramax bulk carrier / 1 (Scheduled to be delivered in June 2024) | August 10, 2022: MOL Signs Deal to Build 2nd Bulk Carrier Equipped with ‘Wind Challenger’ Hard Sail System | |
| 89,999 DWT Coal carrier / 1 (Scheduled to be retrofitted in 2025) | May 24, 2024: Wind Challenger to Be Installed on Coal Carrier for J-Power -World’s 1st Retrofit on an In-service Vessel- | |
| 42,000 DWT Handysize bulk carriers / 3 58,000 DWT Handymax bulk carriers / 3 | This announcement | |
| Rotor Sail | 200,000 DWT Iron ore carrier / 1 (retrofitting to be completed in 2024) | March 8, 2023: MOL and VALE agree to install Two Norse Power Rotor SailsTM to an in-service Capesize Bulk Carrier |
| Ventfoil | 17,500 DWT Multi-purpose vessel / 1 | This announcement |
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Source: MOL
