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.

The 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.

The 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