Wärtsilä, Norsepower Team Up on Rotor Sails

Photo: Norsepower Rotor Sails installed on board the Maersk Pelican tanker. Photo courtesy Wartsila/Norsepower

Finnish technology group Wärtsilä has teamed up with Finnish rotor sail propulsion specialist Norsepower to pursue energy-saving rotor sail projects in the commercial maritime industry.

The service cooperation agreement expands the global wind propulsion service network by allow Norsepower to order service work from Wärtsilä, while Wärtsilä can pursue and sell Norsepower Rotor Sail systems with support from Norsepower.

“With the growth of Norsepower’s manufacturing capacity and the anticipated increasing demand for its Rotor Sails, the collaboration will help the organization work at scale and further strengthen its customer service offering in cooperation with Wärtsilä’s global service network,” the companies said in a press release.

The main target of the agreement includes tankers, passenger ferries and cruise ships, as well as dry cargo vessels.

Since launching in 2014, Norsepower rotor sails have been installed on three vessels leading reduction of an estimated 5,000 tons of CO2 emissions, according to Norsepower. A fourth installation is already planned for 2020.

Norsepower’s Rotor Sail auxiliary propulsion system is a modernized version of the Flettner rotor; a spinning cylinder that uses the Magnus effect to harness wind power to propel a ship and enhance fuel-saving. The solution has also been independently verified to reduce fuel consumption by up to 20%.

In March, the company was issued its first type approval design certificate certifying the system for use on board a commercial ships.

“The industry is transforming and we intend to be at the forefront of this change. We are really enthusiastic about this cooperation with Norsepower, which is a great example of our commitment to enabling sustainable societies with smart technology,” says Stefan Wiik, Vice President, Asset Management Services at Wärtsilä. “We are now embarking on an exciting journey together, supporting and promoting sustainable technologies for a cleaner future.”

“There is a rapid rise in demand for modern wind propulsion in shipping, Norsepower Rotor Sails. We are, therefore, delighted by this partnership agreement, and the ability it gives us to support our customers no matter where they are sailing and operating our technology. It also comes at a time when the global shipping industry is looking for proven and economical solutions to reduce their carbon footprint, and our Rotor Sail continues to be the most attractive, credible choice in wind-assisted propulsion,” adds Norsepower’s CSO, Jukka Kuuskoski.

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