Wind-Assisted! First 18,500 dwt IMO II Eco-Friendly Chemical Tanker Successfully Delivered

On the eve of the Spring Festival, the first 18,500 dwt IMO Type II eco-friendly chemical tanker, built by Wuhu Shipyard for the UK-based shipowner Union Maritime Limited, was successfully delivered. Integrating a methanol-ready design with a rotor sail system, this vessel deeply embodies the concept of green shipbuilding and stands as a benchmark for leading the low-carbon transformation of the industry.

Rotor Sails Achieve Energy Saving and Carbon Reduction, While Explosion-Proof Technology Sets a New Safety Benchmark

During the construction of this vessel, Wuhu Shipyard collaborated with Norsepower, a global leader in wind-assisted propulsion technology, to equip it with two advanced rotor sail systems. Verified results show that the system can achieve energy savings of 5% to 25%, with a maximum reduction in fuel consumption of approximately 10%. This not only effectively lowers operational costs but also significantly reduces carbon emissions, providing reliable support for the vessel's green and low-carbon navigation. Additionally, the rotor sails feature an explosion-proof design, rigorously meeting the highest safety standards for transporting explosive media in product oil/chemical tankers. This represents an early application of such explosion-proof technology in domestic vessels of the same type, achieving a high degree of integration between green technology and safety standards.

Lifting with a tolerance of ±10 mm, achieved with a 35.5 m clearance height

From technical design to engineering implementation, the project team confronted formidable challenges, including a high installation point and the need to control the vertical center of gravity of the rotor sails during lifting to within ±10 mm. Through in-depth collaboration with the equipment manufacturer, optimizing specialized tooling solutions, and strictly controlling lifting precision, they successfully overcame all technical difficulties, ensuring the high-quality installation of the rotor sail system. Additionally, to meet the requirements of global route operations, the team precisely controlled the vessel's air draft to 35.5 meters, allowing it to smoothly transit the St. Lawrence Seaway and the North American Great Lakes. This significantly enhanced the vessel's global navigability and operational flexibility.

The 18,500 dwt IMO Type II eco-friendly chemical tanker seamlessly integrates green propulsion, wind-assisted technology, and superior navigational performance, marking a key milestone for Wuhu Shipyard in promoting green shipping and driving the industry's low-carbon transformation. Its successful delivery heralds the arrival of the Year of the Horse with a resounding overture.

Vessel Type Description

The vessel has an overall length of 149.8 meters, a molded breadth of 22.8 meters, a molded depth of 12.7 meters, and a scantling draft of 8.5 meters. It features a methanol-ready design, reserving ample space for future conversion to methanol clean fuel, thereby establishing a long-term low-carbon development layout. The ship is equipped with two Norsepower rotor sail systems, one located on the foredeck and the other in the cargo area. This system leverages the Magnus effect: an electric motor drives the cylindrical rotors to spin actively. As airflow passes over the rotating cylinders, it creates a pressure differential, which is converted into efficient and stable auxiliary thrust, providing green power for navigation. The vessel is powered by a low-speed two-stroke diesel engine, paired with a controllable pitch propeller (CPP) and a pre-swirl stator, along with a flap rudder equipped with a rudder bulb. This configuration significantly enhances propulsion efficiency and maneuverability, ensuring that the nearly 150-meter-long ship can navigate flexibly in narrow waterways. Furthermore, the vessel utilizes a shaft generator system with variable frequency drive. Under normal sailing conditions, it can meet the vessel's entire electricity demand without needing to start an auxiliary generator, further reducing fuel consumption and equipment maintenance costs.