The Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and the raw materials group Vale have equipped a 200,000-ton class bulk carrier with rotor sails.
According to MOL, the equipping of the almost 300 m long “Camellia Dream”, which sails under the Japanese flag, is the world’s first use of rotor sails on a Capesize bulk carrier in the 100,000 to 200,000 dwt class. Two 35 m x 5 m Norsepower rotor sails are being used here.
The ship, which has now called at the important ore port of Ponta da Madeira for the first time since the retrofit, is expected to consume around 6 to 10 % less fuel and emit greenhouse gases on the routes between Brazil and the Far East thanks to the combination of rotor sails and voyage optimisation technology.
MOL relies on rotor sails and wind challengers
MOL has set itself the goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. One of the key measures to achieve this goal is the introduction of clean energy and other energy-saving technologies, including the installation of wind propulsion systems such as rotor sails and wind challengers, devices that convert wind energy into propulsion using retractable hard sails.
Vale is committed to supporting the maritime industry in achieving the decarbonisation goals of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In line with the goals of the Paris Agreement, the Group has also set itself the target of reducing Scope 3 emissions, which refer to the value chain that includes shipping emissions, by 15% by 2035.
The company has been using second-generation “Valemax” vessels with a capacity of 400,000 tons since 2018 and “Guaibamax” vessels with a capacity of 325,000 tons since 2019. As part of its Ecoshipping program, Vale has developed innovative energy-efficient projects such as the rotor sail project and a pioneering project to install multi-fuel tanks on iron ore freighters.
