A large bulk carrier featuring the “Wind Challenger” hard sail system is slated for delivery in October 2022 after sea trials, said Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. on Wednesday (23 March).
The hard sail system will be installed on the newbuilding, currently under construction at Oshima Shipbuilding, after shoreside tests.
MOL has been promoting the Wind Challenger Project to harness wind as a propulsive force for merchant ships.
In December 2020, MOL signed a coal transport deal with Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. to use a coal carrier equipped with the “Wind Challenger” system.
The introduction of the Wind Challenger is expected to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by about 5% on the Japan-Australia route or about 8% on the Japan-North America West Coast route, in comparison with a conventional vessel of the same class.
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Source: Manifold Times
