Anemoi Marine Technologies has successfully completed a retrofit of its Rotor Sails on the massive 400,000 DWT ore carrier, NSU TUBARAO.
This installation adds significant eco-conscious advancements to the vessel owned by NS United Kaiun Kaisha, Ltd. (NSU) and chartered by Vale International.
The introduction of five 35-metre tall Rotor Sails is anticipated to lower fuel consumption by 6-12% annually, marking the fourth such installation on Vale-chartered vessels.
Installation process
The Rotor Sail retrofit was executed during a routine drydock in October at Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard
The Rotor Sail retrofit was executed during a routine drydock in October at Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard Co., Ltd in China. The vessel, five years old, is on a long-term charter tasked with transporting iron ore for Vale. A folding mechanism allows the Rotor Sails to tilt, ensuring operational flexibility during cargo loading and unloading processes.
NSU is setting industry standards by integrating Rotor Sails with cutting-edge digital technologies that boost power optimisation and route efficiency.
Manta’s FuelOpt system grants the vessel greater control over main engine power management, while NAPA’s Voyage Optimisation tools aid in voyage planning. This synergy ensures the NSU TUBARAO can benefit from favourable wind conditions, enhancing fuel economy without altering schedules.
Technological advancements
Alongside the Rotor Sail upgrades, NSU TUBARAO underwent a major efficiency overhaul. The vessel now hosts a new shaft generator which enhances its energy dynamics, facilitating better fuel consumption when using Anemoi's Rotor Sails.
Advanced control systems have seamlessly integrated Rotor Sail technology with the shaft generator, underscoring the project’s commitment to sustainable shipping through innovative energy solutions.
Anemoi worked closely with partners including NSU, Vale, and Class NK to demonstrate the benefits of optimising propulsion and navigation for wind assistance. Clare Urmston, CEO of Anemoi, highlighted the sector's increasing confidence in wind propulsion as a pathway to reduce shipping emissions.
Efficiency and Collaboration
The retrofit was completed on schedule through collaboration between Anemoi and NSU teams
With a length overall of 361 metres and a beam of 65 metres, the NSU TUBARAO, delivered in September 2020, stands among the globe's largest bulk carriers. Its five Rotor Sails, each measuring 35 metres in height and 5 metres in diameter, exploit the magnus effect to significantly curtail the engine's propulsion demands at specified speeds.
"At NSU, we strive to equip our stakeholders with the most efficient vessels," remarked Toru Fujita, Director and Managing Executive Officer of NSU. "The Rotor Sails on NSU TUBARAO, supported by advanced systems to maximise fuel savings, exemplify our commitment."
The retrofit was completed on schedule through collaboration between Anemoi and NSU teams, further demonstrating the potential of wind-assisted propulsion technology in creating a more sustainable maritime future.
Anemoi Marine Technologies, the UK-based pioneering designer of Rotor Sails for wind-assisted ship propulsion, has completed the retrofit on another of the largest vessels in the world after installing five 35m-tall units on the 400,000 DWT ore carrier NSU TUBARAO.
The vessel, owned by bulk owner/operator NS United Kaiun Kaisha, Ltd. (NSU) and chartered by mining giant Vale International, is expected to reduce fuel consumption by 6-12% annually using the wind-assisted propulsion system. This marks the fourth VLOC installation of Anemoi Rotor Sails on vessels chartered by Vale.
The completion of this installation means Anemoi has surpassed 1.6million DWT of vessel tonnage installed with Anemoi Rotor Sails.
Rotor Sail installation
The Rotor Sail installation on the five-year-old vessel, currently operating under a long-term charter to transport iron ore for Vale, was completed during scheduled drydocking in October in Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard Co.,Ltd, China. The Rotor Sails are deployed using a folding (tilting) mechanism for flexibility during cargo handling.
NSU has taken an industry-pioneering approach by combining Rotor Sails with advanced digital solutions that optimise power usage and vessel routing, enhancing fuel efficiency on NSU TUBARAO and maximising the use of wind energy.
Manta’s FuelOpt offers flexibility to the owner for power management of the main engine, including optimisation of fuel saved by the Rotor Sails. Coupled with NAPA’s Voyage Optimisation toolbox for voyage planning to maximise the benefits of favourable winds without compromising departure or arrival times.
Rotor Sail technology
During the scheduled special survey, NSU TUBARAO was also equipped with a new shaft generator designed to enhance the efficiency of the vessel. This upgrade not only improves the vessel’s own energy performance but also optimises fuel consumption when operating Anemoi’s Rotor Sails.
Anemoi successfully integrated its Rotor Sail technology with the vessel’s shaft generator through advanced control system integration, ensuring seamless coordination between wind propulsion and onboard power supply. NSU’s forward-thinking approach to sustainable innovation means this installation stands among the most efficient wind propulsion retrofit projects to date.
“The scale of this project shows the market’s growing confidence in wind power as a crucial enabler of lower emission shipping. Working with progressive partners like NSU, Vale and Class NK, we are able to advance Rotor Sail technology and show how optimising propulsion integration and navigation for wind assistance can deliver even greater benefits.” - Clare Urmston, CEO of Anemoi.
World’s most efficient ships
“At NSU we aim to support our stakeholders with the world’s most efficient ships. The Rotor Sails on NSU TUBARAO, and the advanced systems that will help maximise its fuel-saving potential, are a perfect example of those efforts.”
“We are pleased to have completed this successful installation, within the scheduled drydock, by strong collaboration of both Anemoi and the NSU team,” said Toru Fujita, Director, Managing Executive Officer of NSU.
NSU TUBARAO is a 361m length overall, 65m beam very large ore carrier delivered in September 2020. With a deadweight tonnage of 399,717, it is amongst the largest bulk carriers in the world. The five Rotor Sails onboard measure 35m tall and 5m in diameter, designed to maximise the magnus effect that provides lift and thrust to significantly reduce engine propulsion demand in order to sail at a given speed.
