Anemoi Marine Technologies - Experts & Thought Leaders

Anemoi Marine Technologies, the UK-based pioneering designer of Rotor Sails for wind-assisted ship propulsion, is to install Rotor Sails on two newbuild chemical tankers under construction for Union Maritime Limited. The 18,500 DWT vessels, to be built by Wuhu Shipyard Co in China, will feature a combination of technologies and retrofit readiness to safeguard cost-effective decarbonisation across their lifecycle. The Rotor Sails are set to be installed at Wuhu in early 2026 after construction at Anemoi’s state-of-the-art production facility in China. Union Maritime’s strategy The newbuilds will support Union Maritime’s strategy of surpassing the 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (based on 2008 levels) required by the IMO’s 2030 indicative checkpoint. The use of wind-assisted propulsion will help to ensure that the owner fulfils the IMO requirement that at least 5% of the energy used by 2030 is from zero- or near-zero-emission sources. Vessel and rotor sail integration design The vessels will each be fitted with two 3.5m-diametre Rotor Sails, with heights of 20.5m and 24m, respectively. The Rotor Sails will be EX-rated, fulfilling the safety requirements for use on vessels carrying potentially explosive substances. Vessel and rotor sail integration design was conducted by China-based ship design and engineering consultancy Odely Marine. Anemoi’s Rotor Sail technology Union Maritime is a long-standing advocate of wind-assisted propulsion and has explored multiple wind technologies across its fleet. Their decision to partner with Anemoi for this project reflects their continued commitment to innovation and their confidence in solutions that deliver strong operational performance and long-term value. Union Maritime selected Anemoi’s Rotor Sail technology for this project following a detailed review of available solutions. Anemoi adapted the previously prepared foundation arrangements to accommodate its system, ensuring optimal performance and seamless integration. Union Maritime’s sustainability roadmap “Wind propulsion is central to Union Maritime’s sustainability roadmap and to our collaborative initiative, Project AeroPower, which demonstrates that commitment in action." "Partnering with Anemoi reflects our ongoing drive for scalable, high-impact innovation. We believe Anemoi’s Rotor Sail technology will be a powerful enabler of our goal to build the most energy-efficient fleet on the water,” said Bhuvnesh Dogra, Chief Technical Officer of Union Maritime. New benchmark for efficient Clare Urmston, CEO of Anemoi, commented, “We’re proud to partner with Union Maritime on these forward-looking vessels. Integrating Anemoi Rotor Sails from the outset showcases what can be achieved when innovative owners commit to wind-assisted propulsion." "This project highlights the strong operational benefits of our technology and sets a new benchmark for efficient, future-ready chemical tankers.”

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.

U-Ming Marine Transport Corporation (U-Ming) and renowned wind propulsion technology provider - Anemoi Marine Technologies Ltd. (Anemoi) are pleased to announce the successful completion of the Rotor Sail installation on U-Ming’s Grand Pioneer, a 325,000 DWT Very Large Ore Carrier (VLOC). U-Ming is the first Taiwanese shipowner to adopt Rotor Sails, marking a major milestone in the company’s decarbonisation strategy and underlining its role as a first mover in deploying innovative clean technologies. Reduces shipyard’s scope of work Rotor Sails were delivered fully assembled and dynamically balanced from Anemoi’s production base The four 35m tall, 5m diameter folding (tilting) Rotor Sails were delivered fully assembled and dynamically balanced from Anemoi’s production base on the Yangtze River and transported by barge to COSCO Zhoushan shipyard.  In a streamlined plug-and-play process unique to Anemoi, the sails were lifted directly onto the deck and secured in place. This method significantly reduces the shipyard’s scope of work and keeps installation time short. U-Ming’s seafarers For this installation, it took only 1.5 days to lift and fix the Rotor Sails in position onboard, with a further 5 days for commissioning and testing all four Rotor Sails and folding systems once the shipyard had completed their works during the vessel’s scheduled dry-dock in September 2025. Anemoi’s specialist team were present throughout the process overseeing the installation and will sail on the vessel’s maiden voyage from Zhoushan to Singapore, with the Rotor Sails deployed and operational. This is to ensure crew training and operational handover will be completed smoothly, equipping U-Ming’s seafarers with the skills and confidence to operate the technology from day one. Future of global shipping Mr. Jeff Hsu, Vice Chairman of U-Ming, stated, "The installation of Rotor Sails on Grand Pioneer marks an important step in U-Ming’s decarbonisation journey and reflects our belief that the future of global shipping must be both sustainable and competitive." He adds, "Through the collaboration with our forward-thinking partner Anemoi, we are turning strategy into action by reducing emissions, enhancing efficiency, and delivering long-term value. This initiative also demonstrates our commitment to innovation and our contribution to the industry’s shared ambition of achieving net zero by 2050." Critical pathway to lower emission shipping Clare Urmston, CEO of Anemoi, commented, "We are proud to have delivered another successful Rotor Sail installation, providing fully assembled technology that minimises time in the yard and maximises value for our customers." Clare Urmston adds, "U-Ming’s decision to adopt Rotor Sails, particularly as the first in the Taiwanese market to do so, demonstrates their strength, ambition and clear focus on decarbonisation. Our collaboration reflects the growing momentum behind wind propulsion as a critical pathway to lower emission shipping, and we look forward to analysing the performance data from upcoming voyages." Annual fuel and emissions The vessel is projected to achieve annual fuel and emissions reductions of approximately 10–12% on average Following completion of the installation, Grand Pioneer will resume deep-sea service between Brazil and China under a long-term charter with Brazilian mining company - Vale.  The vessel is projected to achieve annual fuel and emissions reductions of approximately 10–12% on average. Sector’s transition towards a net-zero future This milestone underscores the importance of industry collaboration in driving meaningful change.  By taking decisive action as a first mover, U-Ming is reinforcing its decarbonisation strategy while setting an important example for the global shipping community, demonstrating how innovative partnerships and proven technologies like Rotor Sails can accelerate the sector’s transition towards a net-zero future.

Given the diverse stakeholders in the maritime industry, it is understandable that collaboration is a challenge. However, the interconnected ecosystem of maritime makes collaboration essential. From ship owners and operators to port authorities, from shippers to shipbuilders, from classification societies to marine service providers and others, there are vast opportunities to work together and cooperate. To gain insight, we asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: How can the maritime industry increase collaboration, and what are the benefits?