On September 30, 2025, the 325,000-ton very large ore carrier (VLOC) “Yu Yuan” owned by U-Ming Marine Transport successfully completed the installation of four sets of energy-saving rotor sails at Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry (Zhoushan), finishing and setting sail five days ahead of the original schedule.
This is the fourth rotor sail retrofit project completed by Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry (Zhoushan), following the vessels “Camellia Dream”, “Mykonos”, and “Yodo Kai”, further consolidating the company’s technical expertise and project execution capabilities in the field of green ship modification.
The “Yu Yuan” has an overall length of 339.9 meters and a molded breadth of 62 meters. The installed rotor sail system was supplied by the UK-based Anemoi Marine Technologies Ltd. and features hydraulic folding and automatic adjustment functions. Each system’s outer cylinder has a diameter of 5 meters, the top disk diameter is 9 meters, the overall height reaches 35 meters, and the maximum design rotation speed is 170 RPM.
Operating in a mode where the traditional propulsion system and the rotor sails work in coordination, this technology can effectively reduce the vessel’s fuel consumption, providing a viable pathway for improving shipping energy efficiency and meeting the emission reduction targets of the shipping industry.
During project execution, Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry (Zhoushan) fully leveraged the mature experience accumulated from the previous three vessel rotor sail retrofits, systematically optimizing the construction process.
In the critical lifting and installation phase, the project team employed a proven floating-state positioning technique, utilizing a 1200-ton floating crane to complete the precise positioning and installation of all four rotor sails in just 1.5 days, demonstrating significant efficiency.
During the cable laying stage, the project team applied mature techniques and methods, efficiently completing the installation of nearly 10,000 meters of shipboard cabling within three days, providing reliable assurance for stable signal transmission of the system.
The subsequent commissioning phase strictly followed standard operating procedures, successfully completing the rotor sail tilt-back test within 12 hours, ensuring all performance indicators fully met design and operational requirements.
The smooth progress of the project relied on the close collaboration of all parties. During the retrofit period, the Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry (Zhoushan) project team maintained efficient coordination with the shipowner and equipment supplier, establishing smooth communication channels and rapid problem-response procedures.
On-site, various work teams coordinated in an orderly manner. Processes such as platform /assembly, bracket installation, base welding, pipeline laying, and cable deployment were tightly sequenced. The team demonstrated strong synergy and efficient overall progress, securing valuable time for subsequent commissioning.
During the E-Stop test phase, when faced with an unexpected issue, technical personnel created on-site drawings, simulated circuit control, and through repeated debugging, quickly resolved the fault, ensuring the system successfully passed verification.
Anemoi dispatched a team of experts to participate fully in the installation and commissioning and provided systematic operational training for the crew, laying a solid foundation for the successful deployment and subsequent operation of the rotor sail technology.
U-Ming Marine Transport Vice Chairman Hsu Kuo-An highly praised the project’s outcome, fully affirming the extensive experience accumulated by Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry (Zhoushan) in rotor sail retrofits and the professional capability and collaborative spirit demonstrated by the project team.
Anemoi CEO Clare Urmston also expressed appreciation for the continued deepening of the cooperation between the two parties: “Our cooperation with Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry (Zhoushan) continues to deepen. The company’s professional capabilities in technical details and project management provide strong support for the promotion and application of rotor sail technology.”
To date, Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry (Zhoushan) has cumulatively completed rotor sail installation projects on four vessels, accumulating valuable experience in the field of clean energy ship modification.
The successful delivery of the “Yu Yuan” not only represents a significant achievement in the application of green shipping technology through the cooperation between Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry (Zhoushan) and U-Ming Marine Transport but also injects new momentum into the low-carbon transition of the global shipping industry.
Moving forward, Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry (Zhoushan) will continue to uphold the development philosophy of green and innovative practices, deepen cooperation with global partners, jointly explore diversified solutions for energy conservation and emission reduction in shipping, and continuously contribute to promoting the sustainable development of the industry.
