London, UK | January 27, 2026 – In a significant stride toward the decarbonization of heavy maritime transport, Berge Bulk and Anemoi Marine Technologies have announced the successful deployment of four large-scale folding Rotor Sails on the Berge Meru.
The installation of the 208,000 DWT Newcastlemax vessel marks the second collaboration between the dry bulk giant and the UK-based wind propulsion innovators, signaling a shift from experimental pilot programs to proven, scalable green technology.
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Engineering the Future of Propulsion
The Berge Meru now features four massive Rotor Sails, each standing 35 meters tall with a 5-meter diameter. These mechanical “Flettner rotors” utilize the Magnus effect, using electric motors to spin the cylinders, which interacts with the wind to generate a powerful forward thrust.
Unlike traditional sails, these units are designed for the complexities of modern commercial shipping:
- Folding Capability: To navigate port operations and air-draught restrictions (such as bridges), the sails can be lowered onto the deck.
- Operational Resilience: The rotors do not require lowering during extreme weather; they are simply deactivated to stop generating thrust.
- Fuel Efficiency: By providing auxiliary propulsion, the system directly reduces fuel consumption and cuts CO₂, SOₓ, and NOₓ emissions.
A Proven Partnership
This project follows the 2024 success of the Berge Neblina, a Valemax vessel that served as the inaugural testbed for Anemoi’s technology within the Berge Bulk fleet. The Berge Meru installation, completed at Yiu Lian Dockyards, China, in December 2025, integrates critical operational data gathered from its predecessor.
“We are proud to complete our second project with Berge Bulk, bringing large-scale folding Rotor Sails to another vessel. Berge Meru demonstrates how wind propulsion can be integrated into commercial bulk carriers in a practical and operationally flexible way. We value Berge Bulk’s continued confidence in our technology.” said Clare Urmston, CEO of Anemoi Marine Technologies.
Navigating Toward Net Zero
The maritime industry is facing tightening screws from global regulators. Anemoi’s systems are specifically designed to help shipowners maintain compliance with a suite of new standards, including:
- EEDI & EEXI (Efficiency Indices)
- CII (Carbon Intensity Indicator)
- EU ETS & FuelEU Maritime
As the Berge Meru completes its maiden voyage to Singapore, it serves as a towering reminder that the oldest source of power in maritime history, the wind, is becoming its most high-tech solution for a sustainable future.
Fast Facts: The Berge Meru Retrofit
| Feature | Specification |
| Vessel Type | Newcastlemax (208,000 DWT) |
| Rotor Count | 4 Folding Rotor Sails |
| Dimensions | 35m Height x 5m Diameter |
| Shipyard | Yiu Lian Dockyards, China |
| Primary Goal | Reduced Fuel Consumption & Emission Mitigation |
Berge Bulk: The Titans of the High Seas and the Pioneers of Green Shipping
In the competitive, high-stakes world of global maritime logistics, few names carry the weight of Berge Bulk. Named after the world’s most formidable mountain peaks, the company has mirrored that grandeur in its meteoric rise, evolving from a modest 12-vessel operation in 2007 to a global powerhouse today.
A Fleet of Giants
Berge Bulk manages a colossal fleet of 90+ vessels, representing over 15 million DWT (Deadweight Tonnage). Their reach is staggering, operating everything from agile “Handy-size” ships to the “Valemax”, the ocean’s true leviathans and some of the largest moving structures ever built by man.
While they serve the world’s premier miners and steel mills, Berge Bulk’s true product isn’t just iron ore or coal, it is reliability. Their “outstanding record” for safety and efficiency has made them the preferred partner for the architects of global infrastructure.
The “Blue-to-Green” Transformation
What makes the Berge Bulk story a “masterpiece of journalism” is their refusal to stay stagnant. Despite being one of the most successful shipping stories of the last decade, the company has pivoted toward a “Marshall Plan” for maritime decarbonization.
Their commitment to Net Zero isn’t a vague marketing promise; it is written in steel and wind. By partnering with innovators like Anemoi, Berge Bulk is effectively “retrofitting the future.”
The Anemoi Profile: Reclaiming the Wind for the 21st Century
While the shipping industry spent the last century tethered to the fluctuations of the oil market, a London-based team of innovators was looking up. Anemoi Marine Technologies has taken a 100-year-old concept, the Flettner Rotor, and weaponized it with modern materials science and AI-driven automation.
Rotor Sails the Science: The Magnus Effect
Anemoi’s Rotor Sails are not traditional “sails” in the sense of canvas and rigging. They are massive, spinning composite cylinders. When wind hits the spinning surface, it creates a pressure differential, low pressure in front, high pressure behind, known as the Magnus Effect. This generates a powerful forward thrust that pulls the ship through the water, allowing the main engines to throttle back.
Key Performance Metric: Anemoi’s technology can reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by 5% to 30%, depending on the vessel type and route.
Three Pillars of Innovation
What sets Anemoi apart in a crowded “Green Tech” market is their focus on operational reality. They recognize that a 35-meter tower is a liability in a busy port unless it can adapt. They offer three distinct deployment systems:
- Fixed: Vertical towers for vessels with no height or cargo-access restrictions.
- Rail-Mounted: The rotors can slide along the deck to clear the way for massive port cranes.
- Folding (as seen on Berge Meru): The towers “tuck away” to clear low bridges or air-draught restricted waterways.
A Decade of Momentum
- 2015: Anemoi is incorporated, fueled by a mission to solve the shipping emission crisis.
- 2018: Successful pilot on the m/v Afros, the first-ever installation on a dry bulk carrier, which swept international industry awards.
- 2024: The “Gigantism” era begins. Installation of five Rotor Sails on the Sohar Max, a 400,000 DWT Valemax, the largest wind-propelled vessel in history.
- 2025/2026: Global scaling. The opening of a state-of-the-art production facility in Jiangsu, China, capable of producing 250 rotors per year to meet surging demand.
Why the Industry is Buying In
It’s no longer just about “feeling green.” With the IMO 2030 checkpoints and the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) now in play, carbon is a cost. Anemoi’s systems are “movable assets” with a 25-year design life. If a shipowner sells a vessel, they can potentially move the rotors to a new hull, securing the long-term value of the investment.
In the words of the industry, Anemoi isn’t just selling hardware; they are selling compliance and competitive edge. As the Berge Meru sails toward Singapore, it carries more than just cargo, it carries the proof that the age of wind has returned.
Source: Anemoi Marine Technologies