BHP, together with Pan Pacific Copper (PPC) and Norsepower, completed the retrofit installation of a Norsepower Rotor Sail™ (NPRS™) onboard the M/V Koryu, a combination carrier operated by Nippon Marine (a member of the SENKO group and owned by SENKO (60%) and JX Advanced Metals (40%)). The M/V Koryu will carry copper concentrates from Chile to Japan and sulphuric acid from Japan to Chile. The NPRS™ installation was carried out in June 2024, and the M/V Koryu is en route on her maiden voyage post-NPRS™ installation from Japan to Chile.
The rotor sail, standing 35 meters tall with a diameter of 5 meters, has a tilting foundation that allows it to be lowered to facilitate cargo loading and discharge operations at ports.
The Norsepower Rotor Sail™ is a modernized version of the Flettner rotor. The technology is based on the Magnus effect, which harnesses wind to improve ship fuel efficiency. When wind conditions are favorable, NPRS™ allows the vessel’s main engines to be throttled back, saving fuel and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by reducing the power needed to maintain speed and voyage time.
The parties had previously announced the partnership to collaborate on the initiative with the aim of reducing GHG emissions from maritime transportation between Chile and Japan.
Based on advanced simulations and Norsepower’s real-world performance data, the use of NPRS™ is estimated to provide a 5-6 percent fuel savings, on average, on the route between Chile and Japan and is expected to make M/V Koryu the best-performing vessel in its category when measured for the vessel’s GHG emissions intensity.
BHP, PPC, and Norsepower will be monitoring the NPRS™ performance onboard the M/V Koryu to determine the actual fuel savings and associated GHG emissions reduction.
BHP’s Vice President of Maritime & Supply Chain Excellence, Rashpal Bhatti, said “There are multiple onboard innovations that have the potential to achieve GHG emissions reduction in the maritime supply chain, and we are pleased to have collaborated with PPC and Norsepower, our like-minded ecosystem partners, to retrofit the Norsepower Rotor Sail™ on M/V Koryu to reduce shipping GHG emissions intensity on our Chile-Japan trade route. This route has one of the most favorable wind conditions, which was an important factor that the parties considered. It is one of the longest routes globally with such conditions, allowing the vessel to benefit from the longest ton/mile wind propulsion.”
Tomonori Uemura, Executive Officer of PPC, said “PPC is delighted that we were able to complete the installation of the Norsepower Rotor Sail™ onboard M/V Koryu successfully. This project, which aims to reduce GHG emissions intensity in maritime transportation between Japan and Chile, is a symbol of our cooperation with our partners to progress towards a decarbonized society, and we look forward to seeing the rotor sail’s performance.”
Heikki Pöntynen, CEO of Norsepower, said “We are proud to collaborate with BHP and PPC on this project, which marks a significant step towards more sustainable shipping for the M/V Koryu. This partnership exemplifies how industry leaders can come together to drive positive environmental change. The successful retrofit of the Norsepower Rotor Sail™ will reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity by enhancing fuel efficiency in the ship. We look forward to tracking the measurable impact of this installation in real-world operations.”
About NorsePower
Norsepower’s Rotor Sails harness wind energy to propel global commercial shipping fleets, aiming to curtail the environmental footprint of maritime transport by providing efficient, user-friendly, and dependable auxiliary wind propulsion systems.
Source NorsePower