First Tilting Rotor Sails Installed on SC Connector

Finnish-based Norsepower has installed the world’s first set of tilting rotor sails on board the SEA-CARGO roll-on/roll-off carrier SC Connector.

The 35-meter-tall Rotor Sails will provide auxiliary wind propulsion leading to reduced fuel consumption, fuel costs and carbon emissions reductions of up to 25%. In favorable wind conditions, the vessel will be able to maintain its regular service speed by sail alone, according to Norsepower.

The tilting feature, a first, allows the SC Connector to navigate height restricted routes while in operation in the North Sea market. SC Connector, which sails between Western Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and, also, Sweden and Poland, transits under multiple bridges and powerlines, requiring adaptation of the Rotor Sails to tilt to almost horizontal when required.

Norsepower’s Rotor Sail Solution is a modernised version of the Flettner rotor, a spinning cylinder that uses the Magnus effect to harness wind power to thrust a ship.

“Completing the installation has been extremely rewarding, as it reflects how, in taking a collaborative approach with a customer, we can innovate to create solutions that allow Rotor Sails to benefit almost any vessel type or trading route,” said Tuomas Riski, CEO, Norsepower. “As we get closer to 2030 IMO targets, we are seeing our technology gaining momentum – with the market seeing the flexibility we can provide to suit different vessel requirements. This installation demonstrates the technology can go a long way to future proofing IMO GHG compliance, while ensuring significant emissions, and fuel reductions to a variety of vessel profiles today.”

The installation on board the SC Connector marks Norsepower’s fifth installation. The company also has an order to install a record five Rotor Sails on board a newbuild bulk carrier, marking the first newbuild to be equipped with the technology.

“We are focussing on utilising available renewable energy and using it for direct propulsion to design more environmentally friendly vessels,” added Ole Sævild, Managing Director at SEA-CARGO. “The Rotor Sail technology has been proven in the market for a while, but the size is unique for our project. The sails are far more efficient than conventional sails of same size and the tilting function is essential to our voyage routes. Given the estimated emissions savings, we will use our experience of this full scale project, and proceed to develop it further for other vessels in our fleet.”

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