Following the signing of a cooperation agreement at the beginning of 2026, Norsepower and COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Equipment (CHIC) have been steadily implementing the strategic cooperation framework, advancing their operational agreement, and continuously expanding the depth of their collaboration.
The two companies have now signed a new R&D cooperation agreement, formally establishing a dedicated partnership, which further strengthens their collaborative innovation in wind assisted propulsion systems (WAPS).
The agreement reflects a shared commitment of both companies to continuously improve WAPS and accelerate deployment across the global shipping industry. The joint development work will focus on enhancing design, manufacturability, installation efficiency and operational performance, providing support for the R&D and project implementation of the next generation of Norsepower rotor sails. This collaboration embodies the shared vision of both companies to continuously advance innovation in wind propulsion technology and accelerate its large-scale adoption across the global shipping industry.
Heikki Pöntynen, CEO Norsepower, said: “The market for wind propulsion continues to grow rapidly, and innovation remains essential to ensuring we deliver the highest levels of performance, reliability and value to our customers. We are pleased to deepen our cooperation with CHIC in the field of R&D and continue developing technologies that support the large-scale adoption of wind propulsion.“
This latest agreement further strengthens the long-term partnership between Norsepower and CHIC, combining Norsepower’s WAPS experience with CHIC’s engineering, manufacturing and industrial capabilities.
As regulatory and commercial drivers continue to accelerate maritime decarbonisation, both companies remain committed to advancing practical, scalable solutions that help shipowners reduce fuel consumption, lower emissions and improve operational efficiency, contributing to the green and low-carbon transformation of the global shipping industry.
Norsepower and COSCO are deepening their WAPS collaboration (source: Norsepower)
