The giant cargo ship NSU Turbano is entering a new era of wind propulsion, after the installation of five 35-meter-high sails. This move marks an impressive reduction in fuel consumption and emissions, proving that wind technology is making a dynamic comeback in modern shipping.
Anemoi Marine Technologies, which specializes in wind propulsion solutions, has completed another installation of five 35-meter-high sails on the giant VLOC cargo ship NSU Turbano. This marks the fourth installation of Anemoi Marine Technologies sails on a VLOC (Very Large Ore Carrier) type vessel.
The sail installation on the VLOC was completed during its scheduled dry-docking at the Zhoushan Xinya shipyard in China. The installation is expected to reduce the vessel’s emissions by 6%–12% annually.
Alongside the installation of Anemoi’s 35-meter sails, the NSU Turbano’s shaft generator was replaced and integrated into the company’s control systems, to enable seamless coordination between wind-assisted propulsion and the ship’s power supply.
The 400,000 dwt capacity vessel is also equipped with Manta’s FuelOpt system, which automatically controls engine power and monitors fuel performance, and NAPA’s Voyage Optimization tool, designed to create routes based on favorable wind conditions to maximize performance and reduce fuel consumption.
The NSU Turbano is a 2020-built vessel sailing under the Japanese flag. It is 361 meters long and 65 meters wide. It is owned by NS United Kaiun Kaisha and is chartered by the mining giant Vale International. The upgrade of this vessel is in line with Vale’s goal to reduce Scope 3 emissions by 15% by 2035.
So, more and more ships with sails will now be encountered at sea. Beyond the reduction in emissions, shipowning and management companies also see significant fuel savings with this system. A 6%–12% reduction in fuel consumption cannot be considered negligible.
