Norsepower and Idemitsu Tanker Co, the shipping arm of Idemitsu Kosan, have announced their agreement to equip two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) with the Norsepower rotor sail.
The vessels, which will be built by Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) and Nihon Shipyard (NSY) represent the first VLCCs to be fitted with rotor sails. Each VLCC will be delivered with two 35m x 5m explosion-proof Norsepower rotor sails. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in end of 2028.
As part of Idemitsu’s commitment to reducing emissions and advancing sustainable transport solutions, the VLCCs have been designed with energy-saving technologies and prepared for future low-carbon fuels such as methanol. The addition of rotor sails is expected to significantly reduce fuel consumption and GHG emissions, contributing directly to decarbonisation efforts in shipping.
A statement from Idemitsu Tanker Co said the company is committed to realising a carbon-neutral society, and by equipping the new VLCCs with the Norsepower rotor sail, it is not only investing in fuel savings and emission reductions but also taking a decisive step towards the decarbonisation of long-haul shipping.
The deal is considered to underline both the maturity of wind propulsion and Norsepower’s position in the tanker market. With 22 units in operation in this segment alone, Norsepower rotor sails have already been installed on tankers of various sizes, including smaller chemical tankers, LC02 carriers, MR, LR, VLGC, and now, for the first time, on VLCCs.
Heikki Pöntynen, CEO Norsepower, said: “This is a defining moment for Norsepower and for wind propulsion in global shipping. Partnering with Idemitsu Tanker and JMU on the first VLCCs with rotor sails and doing so as our first newbuild project in Japan, is a tremendous step forward. Japan has already become the single biggest market for Norsepower projects, and this collaboration confirms both the trust in our technology and its relevance across all tanker segments.”
The Norsepower rotor sail is a modernised, data-driven evolution of the Flettner rotor – a spinning cylinder that uses the Magnus effect to capture wind and deliver clean propulsion. Alongside the aerodynamic hardware, each installation is supported by digital control systems that optimise performance in real time, ensuring the sails operate at peak efficiency in every condition. By reducing reliance on engines, the system cuts both fuel consumption and emissions. Depending on wind patterns, routing and vessel operations, Norsepower rotor sails typically reduce fuel use by 5% to 25%, and higher when conditions are favourable.
Image: VLCC equipped with Norsepower sails (source: Norsepower)
