Anemoi Marine Technologies has completed the installation of five 35m-tall rotor sails on the 400,000 DWT ore carrier NSU Tubarao, marking the fourth very large ore carrier (VLOC) installation of Anemoi rotor sails on vessels chartered by Vale.

The vessel, owned by NS United Kaiun Kaisha (NSU) and chartered by Vale International, is expected to reduce fuel consumption by 6-12% annually using the wind-assisted propulsion system, according to Anemoi.

The completion of this installation means Anemoi has surpassed 1.6 million DWT of vessel tonnage installed with its rotor sails.

The rotor sail installation on the five-year-old vessel, which operates under a long-term charter to transport iron ore for Vale, was completed during scheduled drydocking in October at Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard in China. The rotor sails are deployed using a folding mechanism for flexibility during cargo handling.

NSU has combined the rotor sails with digital solutions to optimize power usage and vessel routing. Manta's FuelOpt offers flexibility for power management of the main engine, including optimization of fuel saved by the rotor sails, while NAPA's Voyage Optimization toolbox is used for voyage planning to maximize the benefits of favorable winds without compromising departure or arrival times.

During the scheduled special survey, NSU Tubarao was also equipped with a new shaft generator designed to enhance the efficiency of the vessel. Anemoi integrated its rotor sail technology with the vessel's shaft generator through control system integration, ensuring coordination between wind propulsion and onboard power supply.

"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 optimizing propulsion integration and navigation for wind assistance can deliver even greater benefits," Clare Urmston, CEO of Anemoi, said.

"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 maximize its fuel-saving potential, are a perfect example of those efforts. We are pleased to have completed this installation, within the scheduled drydock, by strong collaboration of both Anemoi and the NSU team," Toru Fujita, director and managing executive officer of NSU, said.

NSU Tubarao is a 361m length overall, 65m beam VLOC 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 maximize the Magnus effect that provides lift and thrust to reduce engine propulsion demand.

Vale says it is focused on adopting technologies and fleet modernization to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and committed to supporting the maritime industry in achieving the International Maritime Organization's decarbonization targets. Aligned with the ambition of the Paris Agreement, Vale has a target of a 15% reduction in scope 3 emissions by 2035, related to the value chain, of which shipping emissions are part, since the ships are not owned by the company.