In a crucial step toward a more sustainable, greener shipping industry, Chemship has commissioned a chemical tanker that boasts sails – a first in the world. On 16 February 2024, over 180 individuals convened on an entirely electric party boat to observe the raising of the sails of Chemship’s 16,100-dwt small chemical tanker named the MT Chemical Challenger.
In Chemship’s 55-year existence, the sails’ inauguration is a turning point that places the business among the forerunners of innovation in the broader chemical shipping sector. The four 16-meter-tall aluminium wind sails were shipped from the Zeewolde factory to RHB in the Port of Rotterdam a week prior. They were placed on the 134-meter-long vessel transporting cargo between the Mediterranean and the US East Coast for Chemship.
Image Credits: Chemship BV/LinkedInThe VentoFoil units had been extended by Chemship’s compatriot firm named eConowind. They give rise to a direct wind surface of almost 180 sq mtrs. Smart vacuum tech quintuples wind force, producing a gross wind surface of approximately 900 square meters. This equals an imaginary sail of 30 by 30 meters.
Chemship boasts a comparatively young fleet with an average vessel age of seven years. The project forms a part of the firm’s envisioned green vision titled “Setting Sail toward Sustainable Shipping”, which demonstrates Chemship’s dedication to sustainability and serves as a reminder of responsibility in the context. By using the wind’s power to minimize fuel consumption, the tanker operator hopes to achieve an average reduction of 10% CO2 with the turbo sails.
Image Credits: Chemship BV/LinkedInThe wind sails have been noted to fit well in the existing configurations of Chemship’s tankers. Earlier in the month, eConowind’s VentiFoils were chosen by Finland-based RABN – Rederi Ab Nathalie to install the firm’s general cargo vessel, Odda Marie.
Reference: Offshore Energy
