In summer 2024, Baltrader’s new cement carrier ‘Cemcommander’ is to be fitted with a Norsepower rotor sail, with the aim of improving energy efficiency and reducing fuel consumption by up to 14%.
The German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) is supporting the project with NaMKü funding. Norsepower’s delivery comprises one 24m x 4m sized Norsepower rotor sail, to be fitted on the newest cement carrier of the Baltrader fleet, being constructed at Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard in China, to an ecological ship design by SDC Ship Design and Consultants of Hamburg.
The Norsepower rotor sail is described as a radically modernised version of the Flettner rotor. It uses the ship’s electric power to actively rotate the cylinder-shaped rotor on the deck, producing additional thrust. The product meets the funding objectives by saving fuel and thus enabling emission reductions of up to 14%. Wind-assisted propulsion systems like Norsepower rotor sail can make a direct contribution to climate protection on the way to carbon-neutral shipping.
Cemcommander will fly a European flag and be commercially operated by Baltrader Schifffahrtsgesellschaft. Technical mangement of the newbuild, and the rest of the Baltrader fleet, is by Brise Bereederungs. The wind propulsion system will be classified by Bureau Veritas and the ship will sail under the WPS2 class notation.
The installation of the Norsepower rotor sail is supported by the funding Directive ‘Sustainable Modernisation of Coastal Vessels’ (NaMKü) of the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. This directive supports measures to improve the energy efficiency of coastal vessels.
Kai-Erik Clemmesen, MD Baltrader/Brise, said: “We are looking forward to seeing our latest newbuilding being fitted with a Norsepower rotor sail. This proven technology will help to make a fuel-efficient state-of-the-art cement carrier even more economical and environmentally friendly. We thank Norsepower for the good cooperation to let this project become a reality.”
Tuomas Riski, CEO Norsepower, said: “We welcome Baltrader as our new customer. With the data collected and verified from eight ships already, Norsepower can guarantee that the performance criteria of the funding directive of NaMKü will be met. The Norsepower rotor sails will help to reduce the carbon footprint of the supply chain of the cement sector.”
Jukka Kuuskoski, Chief Customer Operations Officer, Norsepower, added: “We are very happy to support the decarbonisation of Baltrader operations with the innovative Norsepower rotor sail installation on the Cemcommander. We appreciate the dedication and excellent cooperation spirit of the Baltrader/Brise team and look forward to the installation of their first unit.”
Image: Baltrader’s new cement carrier ‘Cemcommander’ will be fitted with a Norsepower rotor sail (source: SDC/Blue Comms)
