Eight years of experience with WASP pays off

Anemoi’s wind-assisted Rotor Sails reach milestone of eight years in operation.

Anemoi Marine Technologies’ wind-assisted Rotor Sail propulsion system has completed more than eight years of continuous commercial operation after the vessel M/V Afros received its second interim dry-dock inspection. The inspection, carried out by Lloyd’s Register in China in April, confirmed the soundness of the vessel’s four Rotor Sails, Anemoi said.

The 64,000-tonne carrying capacity Ultramax bulk carrier Afros was the first bulk carrier to be fitted with Rotor Sails when the system was installed in 2018.
According to Anemoi, the sails completed 154 voyages, saving 1,340 tonnes of fuel and reducing well-to-wake CO2 emissions by 4,980 tonnes, while maintaining operational availability above 95%.

Milestone

Anemoi says that the installation also reduced the vessel’s IMO Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) rating by around 4.2%: “The successful completion of the second interim inspection of the Afros is a milestone, not only for Anemoi, but for the wider wind propulsion sector. Independent confirmation by Lloyd’s Register after more than eight years in operation demonstrates that this is a sustainable, practical and commercially viable technology for the global fleet.

“This level of long-term operational validation significantly reduces uncertainty for shipowners considering wind-assisted propulsion and reinforces the role Rotor Sails can play in improving ship efficiency and supporting compliance with increasingly stringent emissions regulations,” said Nick Contopoulos, Anemoi co-founder and chief commercial officer.

Sustainability

“Since its commissioning, the Afros has served 32 different charterers, demonstrating that the Rotor Sail system is not a barrier to operating in the spot market. We are therefore optimistic about the profit and emission reduction potential for the rest of the ship’s active life,” added Nikos Apodiakos, Managing Director of Blue Planet Shipping.

“One of the key issues with any maturing technology is its long-term durability and reliability in field conditions. We are therefore very pleased that we found no problems during our recent inspection. This is an important example of successful long-term operation of wind-assisted propulsion systems,” noted John Prosilias, Lead Client Relationship Manager at Lloyd’s Register.

Source: Marinelink
Image: Anemoi

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