Mitsui OSK Lines has disclosed the first operational performance details for its Wind Challenger hard sail on the maiden voyage of the vessel on which it is deployed.
The 100,400-dwt coal carrier Shofu Maru (built 2022), which was delivered in early October, arrived at the Port of Newcastle, Australia for cargo loading on 24 October.
The ship has since departed for the Japanese discharge terminal of its charterer Tohoku Electric Power Co.
“Although there have been minor problems, such as failure of the limit switch for detecting sail conditions, the ship’s crew and on-board engineers have been carrying out repair works and adjustments, and the sail operation rate has been maintained at a high level of approximately 70%,” the shipowner said.
MOL said that after it has collected data from the first round voyage, analysis and evaluation of the sail performance will be carried out.
The Shofu Maru, whose name is made up of “Sho”, meaning pine, and “Fu”, for wind, is the first vessel to be fitted with MOL’s Wind Challenger telescopic hard sail.
By adding wind as a propulsion force, MOL estimates that fuel consumption can be reduced without changing speed.
Estimates indicate that a 5% reduction on the Japan-Australia route and an 8% reduction on the Japan-North America West Coast route can be achieved.
The company is building a second Wind Challenger-fitted vessel, which is scheduled for delivery in 2024.
