Mitsui OSK Lines Tests Wind-Assisted Propulsion Technology on LNG Carrier

A Japanese shipping company has successfully tested its new wind-assisted propulsion technology on an LNG carrier. Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and Oshima Shipbuilding developed the 'Wind Challenger' system, which uses two large fibre-reinforced plastic hard sails to harness wind energy.

The first ship to be equipped with this technology is a 174,000-m3 LNG newbuilding that will be delivered in the second half of this year. The Wind Challenger system can cut fuel consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to MOL.

In previous tests on the coal carrier Shofu Maru, the WASP technology reduced daily fuel consumption by around 17%, or an average of between 5% and 8% per voyage. MOL plans to equip 25 vessels with WASP technology by 2030 and 80 vessels by 2035.

The LNG carrier is chartered to Chevron Asia Pacific Shipping, which will use the ship for long-term operations. The new technology has the potential to significantly reduce emissions from the shipping industry, a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.