We have been following the development of the Wind Challenger Project since it first was unveiled in 2012. Initially developed by the University of Toyko with the support of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Oshima-shipbuilding, the concept is for a sail-assisted ship with retractable rigid wing sails.
As reported by Splash247, the Shofu Maru, the first bulk carrier equipped with a Wind Challenger hard sail propulsion system, has officially started operation following a handover ceremony at Oshima Shipbuilding. The 98,700 DWT bulker will haul coal mainly from Australia, Indonesia, and North America as a dedicated vessel for Tohoku Electric Power Co.
The Wind Challenger design concept envisioned bulk carriers with up to seven masts set with retractable rigid sails. The Shofu Maru has a single bow-mounted mast to test the viability of the design. Nevertheless, the additional propulsion power from the rigid sail is expected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by about 5% on a Japan-Australia voyage and about 8% on a Japan-North America West Coast voyage, compared to a conventional vessel of the same type, and contribute to curbing GHG emissions during fuel transportation, MOL said in a statement.
The shipowner has another wind-assisted bulker set to enter service in 2024 to transport wood pellets for Enviva. In addition to its hard sail system, MOL is looking into adopting Anemoi Marine Technologies’ rotor sails on the vessel, which combined could slash GHG emissions by an average of 20%.
The world’s first cargo vessel with Wind Challenger has been delivered -MOL Wind Challenger Project
Frankly this is nonsense !!
The Rules of the Road clearly states that a proper lookout must be kept. Thus blocking the right ahead visibility is a violation of this basic requirement. One would have hoped that the IMO would not allow this equipment, however as is now usual with that Body it is dead when needed. Once again the “greens” exercise tunnel vision and in this case block it !!
Good Watch (and one means that)
Visibility on sailing ships is not a new problem. I recently visited the Glenlee built in 1896 and can appreciate how difficult maintaining a lookout on a windjammer at the dawn of the 20th century indeed was.
Trying to help the environment by making coal carriers more efficient ain’t going to work.
Just to add to the “green” tunnel vision; there was a report on the local TV news that New Zealand was planning to tax farmers for the cows gas. However no mention, a
s of yet, of the sheep.
Good Watch
Jean-Pierre, making bulk carriers more efficient, regardless of their cargo would have a huge impact. Most large ships on the oceans are bulk carriers.