Berge Bulk selects WindWings for Newcastlemax

Berge Bulk, BAR Technologies, and Yara Marine Technologies have reached an agreement to install four BARTech WindWings by Yara Marine Technologies onboard the 210,000 DWT bulk carrier Berge Olympus. The retrofit will be undertaken in the second quarter of 2023.

The large, solid wing sails on board the bulker will measure up to 50 metres in height and will be capable of reducing CO2 emissions by as much as 30% through a combination of wind propulsion and route optimisation.

The contract strengthens Berge Bulk’s commitment to pioneer the shipping industry’s decarbonisation journey. The company will be an early adopter of wind-assisted propulsion technology, evaluating the technology to reduce the emissions of its bulker fleet.

James Marshall, CEO of Berge Bulk, said: “At Berge Bulk, we believe in the results that can be achieved by harnessing wind power. Evaluating this ground-breaking technology, the estimated impact on reducing emissions can be at least as significant as transitional fuels. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with BAR Tech and Yara Marine to install the first WindWings onboard Berge Olympus and for the optimisation needed when deploying such innovative technologies.”

BAR Technologies received Approval-in-Principle (AiP) by DNV for BARTech WindWings by Yara Marine Technologies in November 2021.

Earlier in June 2022, BARTech announced that Mitsubishi Corporation’s 80,962 dwt bulker Pyxis Ocean will be the first vessel to undergo installation and deployment of BARTech’s WindWings. The installation, anticipated for deployment at the beginning of 2023, comes as the next step in a collaboration launched in 2019 between Cargill and MC Shipping Singapore Branch – the shipping arm of the Mitsubishi Corporation – to increase energy saving and reduce emissions from international shipping.