Maersk opts for the British firm Anemoi

Maersk plans, in collaboration with the British company Anemoi, to test the feasibility of wind-assisted propulsion on one of its smaller container ships.

Although there have already been several initiatives investigating rigid sails for container ships, this marks the first application of a wind rotor on container ships, as Maersk and the wider industry seek ways to increase efficiency and reduce emissions and costs.

The demonstration programme involves Anemoi designing, manufacturing and supplying a fixed rotor sail with a diameter of 5 metres and a height of 35 metres, which will be installed on the container ship in mid-2027. The system will be integrated alongside the existing on-board systems, with Anemoi providing support for the engineering and installation.

The installation will take place on board one of the Maersk Lima-class vessels; according to Anemoi, the system is expected to be deployed on voyages across the North and South Atlantic. The Lima-class, comprising 16 vessels, was delivered from 2011 onwards and built by the South Korean company Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME). The 105,846 dwt container ships are 300 metres long and have a capacity of approximately 8,700 TEU.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Anemoi explained that container ships have not, until now, been at the forefront of wind-assisted propulsion, partly due to space constraints on deck. The company notes that almost the entire deck area is dedicated to containers and that there are concerns about the loss of revenue potential for the vessel. This test addresses those concerns by positioning the rotor near the bow and using a fixed rotor rather than the retractable rotors used on many bulk carriers, thereby reducing air resistance and keeping the rotors out of the way during cargo loading and unloading.

However, the company explained to the Financial Times that container ships are suitable candidates, as they sail fixed routes, making it possible to predict wind conditions, sailing speeds and the ship’s timetable. Anemoi says its technology can operate in rough seas and at wind speeds of up to nearly 110 km/h.

“Wind-assisted propulsion is one of many promising maritime solutions that can improve the efficiency of ships and reduce emissions,” said Ole Graa Jakobsen, Head of Fleet Technology at Maersk. “It has already been tested in other parts of the shipping sector, and we see this pilot project with Anemoi as a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience and assess its relevance to our fleet and to containerhttps://anemoimarine.com/anemoi-renews-rotor-sail-testing-base-with-port-of-blyth shipping more broadly.”

Anemoi emphasises that, to date, its technology has mainly been installed on bulk carriers, large ore tankers and oil tankers. The company was founded in 2015 to commercialise the rotor technology, which was developed a century ago using the ‘Magnus effect’ to generate thrust. The website states that it is possible to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by 5 to 30 per cent. The company installed its first system in 2018 and, according to reports, currently has 29 Rotor Sails in operation and more than 16 on order.

The International Windship Association told the Financial Times that there are around 110 commercial installations of wind-assisted propulsion on vessels of over 400 gross tonnes. According to the association, a further 80 to 90 are on order and an estimated 50 are in the development phase. The technologies, which include rigid sails or rotors, have been tested on most classes of vessel, including an early trial by Maersk Tankers of the rival Norsepower rotors on a tanker. A third technology, which utilises a kite-based concept, is still in the testing and development phase.

Source: Maritime Executive  
Pictures: Anemoi

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