Wind propulsion system manufacturer Norsepower and Norwegian shipowner Berge Rederi have signed a deal to equip two general cargo carriers with rotor sails.
Each vessel will be equipped with two fixed 24m x 4m Norsepower Rotor Sails, which will be optimised for harsh conditions like snow, ice, rain, and high winds often encountered on North Sea shipping routes, Norsepower said in a statement yesterday (15 January).
The 130-metre vessels will also feature battery packs and shaft generators, enabling short-distance hybrid-electric operation.
‘The combination of hybrid propulsion and Norsepower Rotor Sails aligns perfectly with our mission to minimise our environmental footprint while maintaining the highest standards of operational efficiency,’ said Magne Berge, owner of Berge Rederi.
Bunkerspot reported in November 2024 that Norsepower had signed deals with Oldendorff Carriers and IINO Lines to equip vessels with rotor sails. The agreement with Berge Rederi is the company’s first installation of 2025.
The newbuilds, designed by Marine Design and Consulting AS (MDC) and constructed by Jiangsu SOHO Marine Heavy Industry Co. will be delivered with the rotor sails installed, with the first vessel expected to launch by the end of 2025.