The Dutch shipping company Anthony Veder has installed sails on a gas tanker for the first time in the world.
The “Ventofoils” supplied by Econowind are intended to reduce the CO2 emissions of the ethylene tanker “Coral Patula”. A further installation is to follow later this year.
“In our sustainability roadmap, we have set ourselves the ambitious goal of becoming a net zero emitter by 2035,” said Björn van de Weerdhof, Commercial & Sustainability Director at Anthony Veder. “To achieve this goal, we need to act today. While we focus on optimising the design of newbuildings and powering them with (bio)LNG, we are equally committed to improving the efficiency of our existing fleet. This will allow us to reduce our carbon footprint immediately.”
The wind-assisted propulsion system is an important step in this endeavour, he added. Other measures include lower speeds, “just in time” arrivals in ports and the use of shore power. Anthony Veder currently operates a fleet of 28 gas tankers and is active in the LNG, LPG and ethylene segments.
Econowind COO Rens Groot expressed his pride in the rapid success of the project. “Anthony Veder carried out a thorough analysis before deciding on the Ventofoils,” he said, “including an advanced business case calculation in which benefits and realistic costs were weighed up.”
Anthony Veder saves costs and emissions with wind power
This enabled the most important benefits to be identified, such as increasing the speed of gas tankers. Here, sails could help to compensate for the limited power of the engines. According to Groot, the “Coral Patula” (115 m long and 18.6 m wide), which was built in 2009, will achieve “significant fuel savings and CO2 reductions with an attractive payback period.”
Later this year, the ethylene tanker “Coral Pearl” will also be equipped with Econowind ventofoils. “Based on IMO wind conditions, we expect fuel savings of around 5%, with more than 10% possible in optimal wind conditions,” the company said. This not only saves energy costs, but also greenhouse gas emissions.
