Suction sails for Maersk

With the installation of four 22-metre suction sails on the Maersk Trieste, the shipping company is now taking another step in wind propulsion.

This is remarkable for a shipping company that has historically been mainly focused on steam and later motor vessels. In the past, Maersk equipped one of its tankers, the Maersk Pelican, with two 30-metre rotor sails. Despite reportedly positive results, this was not followed up at the time. However, the tanker, which has since changed hands several times, appears to still be operating with these installations.

The retrofit process of the Maersk Trieste was carried out in two phases. This approach is not unusual and aims to reduce the ship’s off-hire time, and thus the economic impact of the installation. Preparatory work was carried out at the shipyard in China, including installation of foundations and cabling. Subsequently, the suction rails themselves were installed in Belgium, which in this way could be carried out relatively easily and took little time.

After this installation, four more sister ships will be equipped with suction sails from Spain’s Bound4Blue, in the same configuration. This constitutes the largest order to date for the manufacturer, which is gradually building up its market position, and suggests that Maersk has more confidence in this form of wind assistance this time.

Source and image: Seatrade Maritime

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