Anemoi Marine Technologies and NACKS have received Approval in Principle from ClassNK for new wind-assisted propulsion integration concepts developed for Ultramax bulk carriers.
The approved designs are aimed at making Rotor Sail installation more straightforward while improving fuel-saving performance on this vessel type. Both concepts use Anemoi Marine Technologies’ latest Rotor Sail design, measuring 3.5 m in diameter and 24.5 m in height. The company said the new unit provides a larger area than the rotor sail installed on an Ultramax vessel in 2018.
The two concepts take different installation approaches. One design places a single Rotor Sail on the forecastle deck. The other uses three sails arranged on the upper deck through a longitudinal rail system.
According to the announcement, the AiP confirms the feasibility of both concepts under ClassNK rules and the International Maritime Organization’s Energy Efficiency Design Index framework.
Nick Contopoulos, Chief Commercial Officer at Anemoi Marine Technologies, said Ultramax vessels adopted wind-assisted propulsion technology early, citing the installation on M/V Afros in 2018. He added that the approval creates a route to apply experience from that project to improve efficiency on a new generation of vessels.
