Japanese carrier Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL) has said its dry bulk carrier equipped with ground-breaking wind-propulsion technology has saved 17% on fuel consumption over the last 18 months since the Shofu Maru, which mainly carries coal, was commissioned into action in October 2022.
The 100 000 deadweight tonnage vessel has a unique four-stage, telescopic, crescent-shaped sail, is operated as a dedicated vessel for the Tohoku Electric Power Co, and has conducted mainly short-stab voyages to Australia and Indonesia.
Included in the seven round trips it has so far done, are Pacific routes to North America and back.
MOL said the Maru saved about 5%-8% on fuel per voyage.
Although only mounted on the bow of one bulker so far, the Wind Challenger hard sail system be added to a further 25 vessels by 2030, OSK has said.
However, the biggest net-zero leap for the line, as it strives to fully strip out greenhouse gas emissions from its fleet by 2050, will be its target of running 80 Wind Challenger vessels by 2035.
MOL president Takeshi Hashimoto said this was well within the line’s means.
