Maersk to install flettner rotors on tanker

MAERSK Tankers, Shell, Norsepower and the UK’s Energy Technologies Institute are to put a pair of flettner rotors onto a Maersk-owned tanker.

The plan is to fit a 109,647 dwt tanker with a pair of 30m high rotor sails made by Finnish firm Norsepower. The installation is planned for the first half of next year and testing will run through to the end of 2019.
Pre-installation calculations by Norsepower suggest fuel savings of between 7% and 10%.
The project is majority funded by the UK’s Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) with contributions from Maersk Tankers and Norsepower. Shell to act as project coordinator.
Flettner rotors are rotating tubes that utilise a phenomenon known as the Magnus effect to turn the winds power into additional propulsion thus reducing engine demand and fuel consumption. Norsepower already has flettner rotors in use onboard a Finnish roro vessel.
ETI is a public-private partnership between global energy and engineering companies – BP, Caterpillar, EDF, Rolls-Royce and Shell – and the UK Government.

More details can be found in the press release

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Craig Eason

Craig Eason is the owner and editorial director of Fathom.World. He has a background in the shipping industry having started his career as a cadet on oil tankers and gas carriers before becoming a navigating officer on a range of vessel types. A change in career, with ensuing university studies, and he has now gained 20 years experience in written and broadcast journalism. He now is in demand as a knowledgeable and competent editor and event host and moderator, both for in-house events and ones for the public.