South Korean shipping company HMM has begun operating Oriental Aquamarine, marking the first time a medium-range (MR) tanker in Korea has entered service with a wind-assisted propulsion system.

The vessel is fitted with a wing sail, a type of wind-assisted propulsion system (WAPS) that uses a rigid, wing-shaped structure to generate aerodynamic lift and provide additional thrust when wind conditions are favourable.

HMM said the technology is expected to reduce fuel consumption by 5% to 20%, depending on weather, speed, and route. The company added that the associated reduction in fuel use is intended to lower carbon dioxide emissions and help meet tightening environmental rules.

The performance of the wing sail will be monitored over a two-year period using operational data from the vessel. Based on the results, HMM said it will decide whether to extend the technology to other ships in its fleet.

Wind-assisted propulsion systems have attracted growing interest from shipowners as a way to improve efficiency on existing vessels without requiring a change of fuel type.