Oldendorff post panamax bulker gets trio of Rotor Sails

Norsepower has completed the installation of three Rotor Sails on 100,449dwt post panamax Chinook Oldendorff in a co-ordinated operation with CSSC Chengxi Shipyard.

Installation and commissioning of the sails was carried out simultaneously with hull painting and other necessary repairs, said Norsepower, and the ship was able to set sail the day after completion of commissioning work to pick up its next cargo in Canada. A team of specialists were onboard for the first voyage post-installation to conduct sea trials and assess the rotor sails’ performance.

Torsten Barenthin, Director of Research & Development, Oldendorff, said: “This autumn, we saw Chinook sailing at 13.4 kts with only 30% of the nominal main engine power. The rotors delivered a surplus of approx. 3MW propulsion equivalent power. While this is only a snapshot in very favourable conditions, this achievement shows the potential savings and environmental impact that Norsepower Rotor Sails can provide when operated properly.”

Chinook Oldendorff, formerly Dietrich Oldendorff, had three 24 m x 4m sails installed as per an agreement signed in February 2024. The sails are installed on tilting foundations to allow stowage on deck during cargo operations, and are expected to bring average fuel savings of around 9% on the ship’s usual North Pacific.

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The companies said the installation was the first milestone in the co-operation between Norsepower and Oldendorff to advance wind-assisted propulsion in maritime shipping.

Antti Aapro, Chief Production Officer at Norsepower, said: “While we worked on the Norsepower Rotor Sails for Oldendorff, our European and China operations had to respond to ever-growing demand.

“Norsepower has now seen a quantum leap towards industrial production. Our staff has grown from 30 to over 120 people over the past two years and our new factory in China is now operational, with production being ramped up. Its capacity will be 50 units by the end of 2024 and 100 Norsepower Rotor Sails per year expected by 2027. Expanding our capacity is the only way to respond to our customers’ needs, which have dramatically increased recently across all ship types and under all flags.”

Norsepower CEO Heikki Pöntynen recently told Seatrade Maritime News the company had installed a recycled rotor sail onto a vessel, taking a unit no longer needed on one ship and installing it onto another.