Finnish wind assisted propulsion company Norsepower and Japanese shipping company IINO Kaiun Kaisha (IINO Lines) have completed the installation of two Norsepower Rotor Sails (NPRS) on the ‘Oceanus Aurora’, a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) chartered by chemical company Borealis, a provider of advanced polyolefins solutions.
The VLGC Oceanus Aurora has been outfitted with two custom designed NPRS units, measuring 20m tall and 4m in diameter, tailored to meet the vessel’s precise air draught limits.
The Norsepower Rotor Sail is a modernised version of the Flettner rotor. Utilising a small amount of electricity to spin cylindrical sails on the deck, the NPRS harnesses wind and the Magnus effect to generate powerful thrust. This innovative product bolsters the main propulsion, resulting in reduced fuel consumption, emissions, and fuel costs.
Oceanus Aurora sails between Houston, USA and Stenungsund, Sweden or Porvoo, Finland. Norsepower calculates that the NPRS will reduce the vessel’s fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by approximately 4%, aligning with international emissions reduction targets, including the CII, and mitigating rising fuel costs.
Thomas Van De Velde, Borealis SVP Base Chemicals and Energy, said: “Minimising the environmental footprint of our transportation activities is vital to our energy and climate strategy. The innovative Norsepower Rotor Sails on the Oceanus Aurora vessel will help us achieve our ambitious emission reduction targets and thus support the transformation towards more environmentally sustainable transportation.”
Seiichi Fujimura, Director, Executive Officer, IINO Lines, added: “Investing in sustainable vessels is paramount to our commitment to environmental stewardship. Partnering with Norsepower and Borealis allows us to integrate promising technologies into our operations, bolstering our efforts towards decarbonisation.”
Heikki Pöntynen, CEO Norsepower, said: “Our most recent installations underscore the shipping industry’s proactive approach to sustainability. The solid real-life performance data from our 27 NPRS units in operation demonstrates tangible reductions in both fuel costs and emissions. With this third delivery and installation contract for a gas carrier, we are honoured to support IINO Lines and Borealis in their pursuit of environmental and commercial excellence.”
The Oceanus Aurora, a dual fuel LPG ship, was delivered in March 2023 from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in Korea (today, Hanwha Ocean), with the foundations for the NPRS already in place. The installation of the units took place in Rotterdam at the beginning of November 2024.
Image: ‘Oceanus Aurora’ VLGC with rotor sails installed (source: Norsepower)
