Japanese shipowner Mitsui OSK Lines and South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean are undertaking detailed design work to install MOL’s Wind Challenger telescopic sails on board an LNG carrier newbuilding.
This follows the award of approval in principle from ClassNK for the design of a 174,000-cbm membrane-type LNG carrier equipped with two Wind Challenger sails.
The sails, which are made of fibre-reinforced plastic, would be capable of extending up to 49 metres and be about 15 metres wide.
“This AiP marks the world’s first approval for an LNG carrier with a wind-assisted propulsion system,” the shipowner said.
MOL said it is aiming for “actual installation” of the sails when the detailed design work is completed.
The company said the risk assessment for the AiP evaluated factors such as the placement of the sails, their impact on visibility, emergency operation procedures and other safety measures.
French membrane containment system designer GTT also looked at the impact on the cargo tank of the sail installation.
GTT has confirmed that the structural safety of the tank is sufficiently ensured, even when considering the stresses imposed by sails, MOL said.
Wind Challenger is MOL’s in-house sail which it developed in partnership with Oshima Shipbuilding.
The first unit was installed on the 100,422-dwt coal carrier Shofu Maru (built 2022) while it was being built.
The shipowner plans to retrofit the system to a second ship and install it on six on-order bulkers.
MOL, which has set a target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, plans to launch 25 vessels equipped with the Wind Challenger by 2030 and 80 vessels by 2035.
