Norsepower, the Finnish cleantech company, has installed three rotor sails on the Chinook Oldendorff, which is expected to reduce the vessel’s fuel consumption by 9% on its North Pacific trade route.
The installation is a joint operation between Norsepower and CSSC Chengxi Shipyard in Jiangyin, China, and is part of the equipment supply agreement between Oldendorff and Norsepower that was announced in February 2024.
Norsepower’s rotor sail technology has been in use for over a decade, but production has recently been scaled up after receiving €28 million in Series C funding in March 2023. A “radically modernized, digital-era version of the Flettner rotor”, the Norsepower Rotor Sail uses electric power to turn the cylinder-shaped rotors and push air behind to create additional thrust for the vessel. According to the company, the spinning rotors are partly manufactured from approximately 342,000 plastic bottles.
The rotor supports the vessel’s main propulsion system and reduces fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and costs. During its maiden voyage with the new technology, specialists conducted sea trials to evaluate the rotor sails’ performance between Jiangyin, China and Vancouver, Canada.
Tuomas Riski, Norsepower CEO, commented on the partnership: “Oldendorff is a dream customer for Norsepower in more than one way: a family-owned, legendary, company with over 100 years operating in the industry and around 700 vessels on the water today. Oldendorff is making green shipping a reality today and is the best partner we could have on our journey towards the zero-carbon industry.”
Source: Norsepower