Three Norsepower Rotor Sails
(NPRS) have been successfully installed and commissioned onboard the 100,449dwt Post Panamax bulk carrier Chinook Oldendorff (ex. Dietrich Oldendorff).
In a joint operation coordinated between Norsepower engineers and CSSC Chengxi Shipyard in China, the vessel was able to set sail just a day after the commissioning work was completed to pick up her next cargo in Vancouver, Canada. During the first voyage, a team of specialists conducted sea trials to assess the rotor sailsâ performance.
The equipment supply agreement between wind propulsion industry leader Norsepower and the centenary industry giant Oldendorff Carriers for the installation of three 24m x 4m Norsepower Rotor Sails was announced in February 2024. This triple rotor sail solution is expected to reduce the Chinook Oldendorffâs fuel consumption and COâ emissions by about 10-15% on the vesselâs North Pacific trade route. With tiltable foundations, the NPRS can be securely stowed on deck during cargo operations, ensuring seamless integration with the ship operation by avoiding disturbances during loading and unloading activities. The installation and commissioning processes were performed simultaneously with the vesselâs hull painting and other necessary repairs.
The Norsepower Rotor Sail is a modernized version of the Flettner rotor. Utilizing a small amount of electricity to spin cylindrical sails on the deck, the NPRS harnesses wind and the Magnus effect to generate powerful thrust. This innovative product bolsters the main propulsion, resulting in reduced fuel consumption, emissions, and fuel costs. Each NPRS is partially made from recycled materials, equivalent to about 342,000 plastic bottles.
With over a decade of proven use, Norsepower Rotor Sails have accumulated more than 385,000 operational hours on vessels operated by some of the worldâs most renowned shipping companies, contributing to a collective reduction of over 25,800 tons of COâ emissions. The installation onboard the Chinook Oldendorff represents the first milestone in the collaboration between Norsepower and Oldendorff to advance wind-assisted propulsion in maritime shipping.
Antti Aapro, Chief Production Officer at Norsepower, added: âWhile 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 NPRS per year expected by 2027. Expanding our capacity is the only way to respond to our customersâ needs, which have dramatically increased recently across all ship types and under all flags.â
The partnership between Norsepower and Oldendorff exemplifies the two companiesâ commitment to sustainable shipping: â an innovative technology provider joining forces with a 103-year-old renowned company to safeguard the planet for future generations. Neither can achieve this transformation alone; the transition to a sustainable future requires both large-scale fleets and the latest technological advances.
Russ McNeil, Managing Director of Oldendorff Vancouver, said: âThe collaboration on this project exemplifies how partnerships can drive meaningful progress. The Chinook Oldendorff reflects our commitment to deliver practical environment conscious solutions that align with our clientsâ needs and our long-term sustainability goals.â
Jennifer Natland, Vice-President, Properties and Environment, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, commented: âWe applaud Oldendorff Carriers and Elk Valley Resources for their leadership to reduce emissions from the shipping industry. Their innovative efforts are in line with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authorityâs ongoing commitment to environmental protection, and we are pleased to welcome the Chinook Oldendorff at the Port of Vancouver.â (Norsepower to check with Port of Vancouver for usage rights)
Originally built in 2020 as the Dietrich Oldendorff, this Post Panamax vessel was renamed the Chinook Oldendorff to reflect the synergy between the Norsepowerâs technology and the natural wind patterns in the Pacific Northwest. The word âChinookâ originates from the First Nations people of the Pacific Northwest referring to a type of wind with coastal and inland variations. Coastal Chinooks are south-westerly winds blowing in from the ocean, while the inland Chinooks are warm, dry winds that descend the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. The name references the innovative use of mother nature to lower emissions on the vesselâs journeys.
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Three Norsepower Rotor Sails (NPRS) have been successfully installed and commissioned onboard the 100,449dwt Post Panamax bulk carrier Chinook Oldendorff (ex. Dietrich Oldendorff).
In a joint operation coordinated between Norsepower engineers and CSSC Chengxi Shipyard in China, the vessel was able to set sail just a day after the commissioning work was completed to pick up her next cargo in Vancouver, Canada. During the first voyage, a team of specialists conducted sea trials to assess the rotor sailsâ performance.
The equipment supply agreement between wind propulsion industry leader Norsepower and the centenary industry giant Oldendorff Carriers for the installation of three 24m x 4m Norsepower Rotor Sails was announced in February 2024. This triple rotor sail solution is expected to reduce the Chinook Oldendorffâs fuel consumption and COâ emissions by about 10-15% on the vesselâs North Pacific trade route. With tiltable foundations, the NPRS can be securely stowed on deck during cargo operations, ensuring seamless integration with the ship operation by avoiding disturbances during loading and unloading activities. The installation and commissioning processes were performed simultaneously with the vesselâs hull painting and other necessary repairs.
The Norsepower Rotor Sail is a modernized version of the Flettner rotor. Utilizing a small amount of electricity to spin cylindrical sails on the deck, the NPRS harnesses wind and the Magnus effect to generate powerful thrust. This innovative product bolsters the main propulsion, resulting in reduced fuel consumption, emissions, and fuel costs. Each NPRS is partially made from recycled materials, equivalent to about 342,000 plastic bottles.
With over a decade of proven use, Norsepower Rotor Sails have accumulated more than 385,000 operational hours on vessels operated by some of the worldâs most renowned shipping companies, contributing to a collective reduction of over 25,800 tons of COâ emissions. The installation onboard the Chinook Oldendorff represents the first milestone in the collaboration between Norsepower and Oldendorff to advance wind-assisted propulsion in maritime shipping.
Antti Aapro, Chief Production Officer at Norsepower, added: âWhile 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 NPRS per year expected by 2027. Expanding our capacity is the only way to respond to our customersâ needs, which have dramatically increased recently across all ship types and under all flags.â
The partnership between Norsepower and Oldendorff exemplifies the two companiesâ commitment to sustainable shipping: â an innovative technology provider joining forces with a 103-year-old renowned company to safeguard the planet for future generations. Neither can achieve this transformation alone; the transition to a sustainable future requires both large-scale fleets and the latest technological advances.
Russ McNeil, Managing Director of Oldendorff Vancouver, said: âThe collaboration on this project exemplifies how partnerships can drive meaningful progress. The Chinook Oldendorff reflects our commitment to deliver practical environment conscious solutions that align with our clientsâ needs and our long-term sustainability goals.â
Jennifer Natland, Vice-President, Properties and Environment, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, commented: âWe applaud Oldendorff Carriers and Elk Valley Resources for their leadership to reduce emissions from the shipping industry. Their innovative efforts are in line with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authorityâs ongoing commitment to environmental protection, and we are pleased to welcome the Chinook Oldendorff at the Port of Vancouver.â (Norsepower to check with Port of Vancouver for usage rights)
Originally built in 2020 as the Dietrich Oldendorff, this Post Panamax vessel was renamed the Chinook Oldendorff to reflect the synergy between the Norsepowerâs technology and the natural wind patterns in the Pacific Northwest. The word âChinookâ originates from the First Nations people of the Pacific Northwest referring to a type of wind with coastal and inland variations. Coastal Chinooks are south-westerly winds blowing in from the ocean, while the inland Chinooks are warm, dry winds that descend the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. The name references the innovative use of mother nature to lower emissions on the vesselâs journeys.
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