US to equip colossal 174,000 cubic meter LNG carrier with wind-powered sails

Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and US-based Chevron Shipping Company have partnered to equip a new LNG carrier with the Wind Challenger, a cutting-edge wind-assisted propulsion system.

According to the firms, this will mark the world’s first LNG carrier to feature such wind-assisted technology.

The 174,000 cubic meter vessel, chartered by Chevron Asia Pacific Shipping, is under construction at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje Shipyard in South Korea and is scheduled for delivery in 2026.

The Wind Challenger’s distinctive telescoping sails are expected to lower the vessel’s fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In 2022, MOL delivered the world’s first partly wind-powered 100, 422 dwt (dead-weight tonnage) bulker carrier, Shofu Maru.

“This is another example of using novel approaches in hard-to-abate sectors to reduce carbon intensity in our LNG fleet,” Barbara Pickering, President of Chevron Shipping Company, in a statement .

Efficient wind propulsion

As the worldwide movement toward carbon neutrality gains steam, the shipping industry is under increasing pressure to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

As a response, MOL created the Wind Challenger system, a wind-assisted propulsion system intended to capture wind energy and use it as a clean, renewable energy source.

According to the firm, to improve fuel efficiency and reduce pollutants, this technology combines automatic sail control with real-time wind monitoring.

In order to maintain the ship’s cargo capacity, the sails are made of lightweight glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP), a material that is uncommon in shipbuilding. This enhances stability and lessens the load.

The sails are also made to retract and expand to maintain stability in choppy weather, reducing the center of gravity and offering the same degree of safety as traditional ships.

The Wind Challenger integrates three core components—sails, a control system, and weather routing—to optimize ship routes and further boost fuel efficiency.

In October 2022, MOL launched the 100,000-DWT coal carrier Shofu Maru, equipped with the Wind Challenger. Over 18 months, the vessel completed seven round-trip voyages, achieving up to a 17 percent reduction in daily fuel consumption, with an average reduction of 5 to 8 percent per voyage.

“The Wind Challenger can be fitted on both newly constructed and existing ships. It does not interfere with existing energy-efficiency devices below the waterline, can be implemented on a wide range of vessels, from bulk carriers (dry bulk ships) to tankers and LNG carriers, and can be installed multiple times,” according to the company website .

Green LNG advancement

MOL recently secured approval in principle (AiP) from ClassNK for its LNG carrier design featuring a wind-assisted propulsion system. This concept will be put into practice for the first time on a vessel chartered by Chevron.

MOL states that the Wind Challenger’s unique telescopic sails will contribute to lower fuel consumption and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

To further enhance safety, the Wind Challenger system includes a fully enclosed navigation bridge and a foredeck lookout station for improved visibility. The sails are positioned to minimize alterations to the standard membrane-type LNG carrier design, preserving the existing mooring system and ensuring minimal impact on ship-to-shore operations.

Additionally, the placement reduces the ship’s windage area, maintaining operational efficiency while incorporating wind propulsion.

“For tradability, the installation position of the Wind Challenger aims to minimize impact on the existing design of membrane type LNG Carriers. It will enable the retention of the existing mooring arrangement unchanged and thereby minimize impacts on ship shore compatibility, together with limited impact on the vessel’s windage area,” said MOL.