Four VentoFoils on Danish tanker

Econowind has successfully installed four 16-metre-long VentoFoils on board the chemical tanker M/T Jutlandia Swan, belonging to Danish shipping company Uni-Tankers. This is the fourth wind-assisted tanker already.

The ATEX-certified wind-assist systems were installed in just four days in the port of Rotterdam.
The installation marks another important step in the growing acceptance of wind-assisted propulsion technology for tankers. With more than 130 VentoFoils sold, Econowind continues to expand its presence in the commercial fleet, providing practical solutions that reduce emissions and help ship owners comply with increasingly stringent regulations.

“This is the fourth tanker sailing with VentoFoils,” says Chiel de Leeuw, Chief Commercial Officer at Econowind. “It shows how our suction wing technology is gaining popularity in the tanker segment. Thanks to our experience and ATEX-approved systems, we know what is needed for these vessels. We are proud to support Uni-Tankers in this important step.”

The M/T Jutlandia Swan is a 124 x 20-metre tanker. Inspired by a similar setup on a Chemship package tanker, Uni-Tankers saw an opportunity to apply wind propulsion to one of their own vessels, in line with their ambitions to decarbonise their operations.

The project was carefully prepared in advance. During a scheduled dry-docking in Turkey, foundation work was carried out. Once the vessel arrived in Rotterdam, the commissioning process at Rotterdam Offshore Group (ROG) went smoothly, underlining how easily VentoFoils can be integrated into operational workflows.

The system is currently being classified by Bureau Veritas and is expected to deliver strong performance: a 10% improvement in EEXI and a 3% contribution to FuelEU Maritime compliance. This makes the business case not only technically feasible but also economically attractive.

“Wind-assisted ship propulsion has clear potential, but its real value depends on how well it can be integrated into day-to-day operations. Now we can test how these sails behave at sea, what they mean for fuel efficiency and how the crew can work with them in practice,” says Kristian Larsen, technical director at Uni-Tankers.

As wind is a key pillar in Uni-Tankers’ decarbonisation strategy, the M/T Jutlandia Swan will now serve as a test case for the integration of suction-based wind propulsion into daily tanker operations.

Source: Xindemaritimenews.
Image: Econowind

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